scarlson Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Hello, I am curious about early versions (non-electric) of the rib bending iron.. types of fuel, different designs. I would be most appreciative of any descriptions and or photos you may know of or have. So far this is my last hurdle to creating a completely non-electric shop. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Jacoby Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 A shaped cylinder with a tang left on the end can be tossed into the coals of a fire,then brought out with tongs and clamped by the tang to a bench. It was hard to use it in the brief period between burn your maple and break your maple, but it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGerald StephenR Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 This is most often what I see for propane powered torches: Propane Torch Bending Iron Set-up As this fellow notes a problem with the flame staying lit, I would make his tank cradle slope downwards somewhat so that the propane stayed further down the tank as apposed to its present horizontal positioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlson Posted June 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Yes I am considering the propane approach.. though with a modification.. I would prefer to set it up as flange > straight pipe > "T" > straight pipe; using the T as the flame inlet.. with tank in the upright position, as you mention. However.. my quest is for a more "peaceful" way to operate.. perhaps spirit-lamp flame introduced to an opening cut into the lower portion of the pipe. The iron in the fire technique is more up my alley.. though it does seem to be quite precarious. Any more ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 The set I have are curved, they were copied from iron ones out of brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertdo Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 As it was often mentioned here you still can use the cold bending method that several maestronet members have been using for years with success. No electricity, no flames so no burn down the house... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Ansara Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 A shaped cylinder with a tang left on the end can be tossed into the coals of a fire,then brought out with tongs and clamped by the tang to a bench. It was hard to use it in the brief period between burn your maple and break your maple, but it worked. This kind of iron is depicted and explained in Herron-Allen's "Violin Making: As It Was And Is". I'm not sure if it still "Is" though. Good luck with your workshop. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSully Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Link for cold bending explanation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertdo Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Link for cold bending explanation? I heard about it first from Craig, who posted some pictures here. On post 21. I think 1 or 2 other people now only use cold bending (just ribs soaked quickly in water and slowly bend around preshaped forms. I think one can add 1 or 2 drops of conditioner in the water). It's longer than the hot method but works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Russell Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 This is a bending iron that came rom London about 1900, though it may well be German. The Iron was heated on a charcoal burner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Jacoby Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 I am curious. If you have electric power, why would you want a non-electrical iron? I am sure the Cremonese Puritans around here who work by candlelight would understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 A 250 watt electric bending iron is much less likely to burn down your house than a charcoal fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlson Posted June 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 Very interesting replies! I am glad I posted this question here. The short answer for why go non-electric.. the challenge, the journey.. my love for woodwork has led me into the world of interesting and fine old handtools.. and developed friendships with antique merchants. It is just more fun using a 100 year old plane or a hand-crank drill press from the 1800s.. it's that kind of thing.. a love of old ways and tools, the learning! I am currently experimenting with an olive oil burner to heat the pipe/iron. The flash point of olive oil is such that a breakage or spill would smother the flames before a fire cold erupt. I could imagine the coal burner and irons system could be quite good if there were two irons to which one could rotate or a helper/apprentice to make the transfer! Interesting find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernhard Ritschard Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 I bought these irons years ago in Cremona, don't know if they are still available from Giò Batta Morassi: I like them, but I would prefer an electric one... Bernhard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M A T T Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Do you think this could work? Alcohol Lamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMG Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 hey guys ! I'm searching for an old bending iron as those that Mr Ritschard shows us in the picture and I don't know where i can found that. If you have any idea, please notice me ! (sorry for my english, i'm a french speaker) Thank you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver N Posted March 22, 2020 Report Share Posted March 22, 2020 On 3/20/2020 at 6:51 PM, NMG said: hey guys ! I'm searching for an old bending iron as those that Mr Ritschard shows us in the picture and I don't know where i can found that. If you have any idea, please notice me ! (sorry for my english, i'm a french speaker) Thank you ! https://www.liuteriashop.com/en/tools/Violin-viola-bending-iron Like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Ledges Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 Kudos to all the tips! Aaaand, they're still available? I have three generations of tools and I love old hand tools in general. But I know in my heart, I'd burn down my humble abode with those things! Maybe we could do a paleo stringed Osteodontokeratika workshop at Oberlin, (bone, teeth, horn/nail), tools. In addition, we could use rocks, water and fire. To keep from burning any buildings down, I will rock pulverize my own insects and cook my secret recipe amber varnish outside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Beard Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 On 6/25/2012 at 1:26 AM, Bernhard Ritschard said: I bought these irons years ago in Cremona, don't know if they are still available from Giò Batta Morassi: I like them, but I would prefer an electric one... Bernhard Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Allen Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 6 hours ago, Oliver N said: https://www.liuteriashop.com/en/tools/Violin-viola-bending-iron Like this? The iron itself could be useful. You could make your own electric version with heating elements bored into it. The tang cut off of course. Beats the Gewa model that costs like $1000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane88 Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 I went to help with the estate of a violin making friend last year. Having been in the trade for some decades, I was expecting a bunch of great old tools and stuff, but the workshop was remarkable not for what i found, although there was some of that, but for what I didn't find. Where was his bending iron? I expected a nice Gewa or German-made similar device, but I found these. His son had put them out on the porch to dispose of, since he didn't think that they had any value. One set for violin, one for viola. I am lookning forward to trying to use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Beard Posted March 24, 2020 Report Share Posted March 24, 2020 Just to clarify, the above are more a modern DIY homebrew rather than very old school. In the old stuff the business end will be a bulky cast shape of bronze or similar for more heat retention (thermal mass). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan slobodkin Posted March 24, 2020 Report Share Posted March 24, 2020 I don't believe you could ever get any kind of bending iron hot enough with an alcohol lamp. When I started working on my own I used an iron which I bought from the Chicago violin making school after the electric heaters burned out. I heated it on a electric hot plate although I am sure I could have used a propane torch and in fact may have done so at times. As soon as my instruments started to sell I happily purchased variable heat electric ones which I have used ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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