Bending Machines for Classics (Acoustics)

[zendo]

Has anyone got an LMI Bending Machine for classical guitar ribs? John Bogdanovich tells me LMI have plans for DIY but I haven't seen anything at LMI. Apparently Bogdanovich made his own. I use one of those Ipex Benders and they are ok but I'm always looking to reduce the effort. Comments welcomed.

[Nick]

LMI Do the classical side molds for their bender, http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproduc ... ng+Machine. Almost at the bottom of the page under "molds" you'll see the first one (#SPMOLD1) is a classical, there's also Robbie O'Brien's classical shape (#SPMOLD16). I've seen a video by Robbie who made his own shape from a template blank that LMI provide (#SPBCMT), it has the notch for fitting to the main chassis, here's the pdf link for the mold dimensions http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/LMI%20bendi ... nsions.pdf & a few shapes too http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/BENDINGMold ... iagram.pdf

Here's the vid

youtu.be/

[Nick]

Sorry I misread your post! You are wanting to build a machine similar to LMI's? I'm about to build a fox style (which can do cutaways which the LMI model cant currently) which is similar but withount the fancy rollers & temperature equipment built in, it was the fore father of LMI's model. I'll probably be putting a few pictures up of the process as I make it so if you want to build your own it may be of some help?

[kiwigeo]

Do it on a pipe ya pussies!!!

A side bending session isn't a side bending session unless you end up with at least one large burn on one of your arms.

[Nick]

Do it on a pipe ya pussies!!!

A side bending session isn't a side bending session unless you end up with at least one large burn on one of your arms.

That's how I usually do it Martin, well an iron at least but Ziricote doesn't play well with irons from what I've read so a side bender has to be constructed before I can start this 12 string!
Oh and I already have the large burn It's what happens when you forget the corner you've just tig welded is still going to be hot thirty seconds afterwards and your stupid enough to stick your arm against it to weld another corner!

[nnickusa]

Nick, don't you glue your guitars together like the rest of us?

Steve, where, exactly are you located, I'm packing tonight...

[graham mcdonald]

With a heat blanket bending becomes fairly simple and while the LMI bender is a grand thing, for something like a classical body it can be done in a less complicated way. A form that is 2mm (the thickness of the ribs) smaller than the half body outline can be made from 18mm ply and covered with some sheet aluminium (around 1mm thick and subtract that from the outline as well) attached with small countersunk screws. A few lengths of 12mm dowel in the waist, the ends and around the bouts which go right through the form and extend 25-30mm on either side will provide anchor points for eyebolts which can be used to pull down shaped cauls to hold the sides in place while they cook. You can go fancier with spring loaded cauls like the LMI bender, but for occasional use the eyebolts are fine. A heaver and more robust form can be made from 200x50mm laminated beams that are used for building houses. They are made from 3mm laminations of pine glued together with some heatproof glue and are really useful for moulding forms. Better building supplies will have it and you can usually find an offcut. Not cheap at around $20 a meter, but it doesn't warp. Carriage bolts work well as the eyebolt anchors.

cheers

g

[simso]

Mmmm, lmi side bender,

Just got mine in, it looks so purty.