Well, I've given my new MEI blanket a bit of a workout in the last few days. I just bought a basic home light switch box to wire the blanket into with a heavy duty power cord going to the mains. The switch box sits next to my bending form so its easy to reach if I need to turn the heat off.
The blanket gets very hot, very fast, so don't even think of leaving it unattended. I did get a little singed by touching the metal slats to check if they were hot enough, so now I just have a spritz bottle near by to give them a shot to see if they sizzle.
I had a set of Qld. Black Walnut that I had thicknessed to 2.8 mm. I gave it a bit of a soak and then wrapped it in 2 layers of kitchen paper, then soaked this as well. I put down one stainless slat, then the wood, blanket next and finally the last slat. The steam started rising really quickly and I started to bend. I thought that it might have been getting a little too hot so I turned off the power for a time, then turned it back on. This side ended up getting some cracks in the tight bends. The second side I did everything the same but wrapped in Al-foil to trap the steam, and kept the heat on longer before I tried to put any pressure on. This one came out better, but still had one small crack in the upper bout.
I thicknessed another side set to .080" and bent it with the Al-foil treatment and I bent perfectly. I now know that Qld. Walnut is much more brittle and harder to bend than any other wood I've tried as yet.
I also bent up the lining strips that I use to make my solid linings. I just wet them down, placed the blanket and slat over top of them and bent away. Took only minutes from start to finish.
So far there has only been the slightest scorch marks on the very outside of the kitchen paper, so I might be getting a feel for how long to have the power on. MEI's controller would be a really nice addition to the set up, but that will have to go on the wish list.
Up until now, I've bent with 3, 150 watt bulbs in a fox-style bender. This worked good but did take a long time. I don't know how it would have handled the Qld. Walnut though. I've also use an electric bending iron. The iron I find works best on bindings, not so great with sides. Takes me way to long to get to the final shape.
For the price of the blanket from MEI I wish I had got one first up. If you're going to build more than one instrument, then a heat blanket is a must have in my opinion.
Giving the MEI heat blanket a work out
Hi Allen, i'm happy to hear that it went rather well for you with the blanket, i bought mine when i was building guitar no 2 and never regretted it, i use 3 x 150 watts bulbs along with the blanket and love how the bending machine gets warm quickly, it sure makes the bending process much easier.
You're right, never ever leave the blanket unattended for even a minute, when i start the bending process, i lock myself in the shop and put my timer on ...and some music too!
Think safety
Serge
You're right, never ever leave the blanket unattended for even a minute, when i start the bending process, i lock myself in the shop and put my timer on ...and some music too!

Think safety
Serge
Jesus, family, friends, guitar and mandolin : D
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 101 guests