Official Luthiers Forum!

I recently ordered a heating blanket from Omega, and built a Doolin-style bender. I've bent 6 sides, and the blanket seems about toast. I can't imagine what I'm doing wrong, but if anyone has any ideas on how to repair this blanket I'd appreciate it.

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!

call Omega, THAT is abnormal behavior. Let us know what happens

I have 2 blankets from Omega and am less thank trilled with the quality. They are more fragile than my Minco blanket. Since you are using a Doolin style bender I am assuming you bend the lower bout and then the upper bout and then the waist. Is this the bending sequence you are using? Where do you put the blanket during the bending process? Top or bottom? What is the blanket in contact with during the bending process?

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Brad
Avon, OH

I have been making bending machines for some time. Early in my career I tried a number of blanket makers. I found protherm, they make some of the heating elements we used where I worked . Omega- Minco- Watlow all made usable blankets but they didn't hold up. Protherm made them custom for me . I have my last blanket 4 years now and I bend about 300 cycles a year.
john hall
blues creek guitars

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I just had an Omega blanket short out too but it was a few years old and had been through a lot of cylcles. I'll be curious to hear what Omega has to say but I don't think those blankets are made to take the kind of abuse we give them.

Mine was showing sings of wear already but I think what put it over the edge was using it at full power for longer than normal to set some tempermental Wenge. It got quite hot and died shortly thereafter.

I've always used mine on the outside sandwiched between two sheets of steel to give it some protection against abrasion and friction. But maybe it would last longer if the outside could disipate heat better.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

LiquidGabe, do you use any type of voltage control? Like a router speed control or high power dimmer? Using a blanket at full power all the time will destroy it.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I had a problem with my blanket too (not sure what make). The silicone material sort of burned through at one point and the heating element at that spot would get red hot and smoke. It did not burn out though. I repaired it by filling the spot with that orange rtv silicone stuff that you can buy at auto parts stores. I packed it into the hole really well and let it dry for about two days. The stuff I used is made by Permatex and it's called "Ultra Copper". It is amazing stuff it will easily withstand 500 degrees. My blanket works fine now.

Mark

I have the bender set up from the inside - metal, paper, wood, paper, blanket, metal. Sometimes I have the wood wrapped in foil. I'm running the blanket through a router speed controller, and bending the lower bout, upper bout, then waist.

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!

Thanks Mark, I'll have to try that stuff.

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!