Official Luthiers Forum!

How does everybody bend their sides? I am specifically curious about bending for a F5. I assume it is with a pipe but it appears to me that it might be possible to build a Fox type bender that would work. If anybody does it this way and has pics, I'd like to see them for ideas. Siminoff says he steam bends because there is no scorching of the maple sides. Any idea what his set-up looks like? Thanks.

It is certainly possible to use a pipe, but some builders use various bending jigs. I've never seen a Fox style one for F-style, but I've seen several like this variant by Andrew Mowry. http://mowrystrings.com/workshop1.htm. I believe LMI carries those heat blankets.

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I've always used the 'lectric pipe, and well, call me contrary, an inside mould. That way you can bend it to fit perfectly and just clamp it up.