Bending iron

[Rachell66]

Hi, 

I am about to buy a bending iron. 

What is your opinion about this one? 

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-bending-sides/bending-iron.html

Thanks, Rachel 

[Wood Butcher]

I have one, but would never buy another.

[Rachell66]

8 minutes ago, Wood Butcher said:

I have one, but would never buy another.

You got this one? 

[Jim Bress]

I started with the bending iron you have linked. Never really liked it, but it will get the job done.  I now have a bending iron and strap made by Luthier's Bench https://luthiers-bench.com/products/bending-iron. I'm very happy with it.

[Rachell66]

6 minutes ago, Jim Bress said:

I started with the bending iron you have linked. Never really liked it, but it will get the job done.  I now have a bending iron and strap made by Luthier's Bench https://luthiers-bench.com/products/bending-iron. I'm very happy with it.

The stewmac, used, has been reduced to £115 + delivery.. I am buying tools slowly for building my first violin. Can you please tell me what you didn't like about it? 

[Wood Butcher]

It’s the wrong shape for violins really, unless you buy the extra extension, but even that’s not the right shape either.

This iron was designed for guitars and mandolins.

[jacobsaunders]

I have often wondered why Americans only have 120 volts, whereas the rest of the world has twice as many (220-240 Volts). Could some kind person who knows why, explain it to me please?

[uncle duke]

45 - 60 min. to heat up?  I use a clothes iron made for neck ties and would have all of the ribs done before the bending iron was heated up.

Ken N. always called it cold bending - he's probably right. 

[Andres Sender]

This is perhaps another option.  It's been mentioned here before, price seems in the ballpark, and you may find reviews of it here.

https://www.dictum.com/en/bending-irons-jbp/bending-iron-with-digital-temperature-control-violin-703921

[avandesande]

1 minute ago, jacobsaunders said:

I have often wondered why Americans only have 120 volts, whereas the rest of the world has twice as many (220-240 Volts). Could some kind person who knows why, explain it to me please?

220v is delivered to the house and there are sockets for it for things like a stove or dryer.

But most of the wiring delivers only one leg of the circuit, so it's half the voltage. I don't know why historically this is.

[uncle duke]

For Jacob - my old man said the U.S. were the first, if not only and also said Edison had something to do with it. 

I'll give him a few hours to change his mind or come up with another reason - never fails.

[Rachell66]

4 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said:

I have often wondered why Americans only have 120 volts, whereas the rest of the world has twice as many (220-240 Volts). Could some kind person who knows why, explain it to me please?

 

[Rachell66]

Just now, Rachell66 said:

 

I asked Dr Google not just any person 

[jacobsaunders]

So in other words, the Americans are still saving up for the other half

[Jim Bress]

34 minutes ago, Rachell66 said:

The stewmac, used, has been reduced to £115 + delivery.. I am buying tools slowly for building my first violin. Can you please tell me what you didn't like about it? 

As WB said, they're made for guitars. The straps are also frustrating because it takes a bend in the strap takes a set. At least mine did. I don't know if they've started using spring steel, but the stainless steel strap mine had was frustrating to work with. 

[arglebargle]

52 minutes ago, Jim Bress said:

 I now have a bending iron and strap made by Luthier's Bench https://luthiers-bench.com/products/bending-iron. I'm very happy with it.

I also got this one after 20 years with my old one. Very happy with it and recommend without reserve. Buy it.

[Brad Dorsey]

37 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said:

I have often wondered why Americans only have 120 volts, whereas the rest of the world has twice as many (220-240 Volts). Could some kind person who knows why, explain it to me please?

We are more efficient, so we only need half as many as you do.

[Brad Dorsey]

2 hours ago, Rachell66 said:

What is your opinion about this one?...

It looks very similar to, but not identical to, mine.  (Mine does not have the violin/mandolin extension.)  Mine serves my needs fine.  I only do repairs, and I use it less than once a year.

[jacobsaunders]

45 minutes ago, Brad Dorsey said:

We are more efficient, so we only need half as many as you do.

1 hour ago, Rachell66 said:

 

I see, Mr. Burgess would have to chuck out his Victorian toaster and buy a new one, fair enough

[chiaroscuro_violins]

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[uncle duke]

a tie rod end wedged into a piece of wood using a propane torch - I tried it but too time consuming trying for good results - again b.s.  {don't attempt}

[David Burgess]

1 hour ago, jacobsaunders said:

I see, Mr. Burgess would have to chuck out his Victorian toaster and buy a new one, fair enough

Don't be makin' fun of the USA. Without USA, you wouldn't have sausage.

[Muswell]

Another vote for Luthiers Bench. I too have the one that Stewmac sell and it is gathering dust since I stopped making guitars.

[JacksonMaberry]

I have a Chinese fleabag iron I bought when I was starting out and have no real issues with it. It's not as nice as the luthiers bench one, which is prefer to have, but it gets the job done fine. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Violin-Rib-Bending-Iron-violin-Making-Tool-temperature-control-Luthier-Tools-/172991480981?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

Be sure to get the appropriate voltage

 

[chiaroscuro_violins]

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