Bending iron

[MWard]

Anyone use the one International Violin sells?  https://www.internationalviolin.com/ProductDetail/t292_digital-violinviola-bending-iron-110-volt

 

[JacksonMaberry]

3 hours ago, MWard said:

Anyone use the one International Violin sells?  https://www.internationalviolin.com/ProductDetail/t292_digital-violinviola-bending-iron-110-volt

 

It's the same unit as the Chinese eBay iron. 

[Bill Yacey]

11 hours 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?

I think the rest of the world is overcompensating for dysfunctional inadequacy.

[J.DiLisio]

18 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

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

 

I use this one too. It's cheap but solid and works fine for violin/viola/uke,. not sure if it's tall enough for cello ribs. 

[David Burgess]

7 hours ago, J.DiLisio said:

I use this one too. It's cheap but solid and works fine for violin/viola/uke,. not sure if it's tall enough for cello ribs. 

If I clamp the base to my bench, or in my bench vise, will both the base and the upper heated portion withstand 100 pounds of side force?

[avandesande]

53 minutes ago, David Burgess said:

If I clamp the base to my bench, will the upper heated portion withstand 100 pounds of side force?

I don't know about 100 pounds but it seems pretty substantial. It's worked well enough for me so far.

[scordatura]

I've had the Stewmac and the Luthier's Bench. While the Stewmac works, if you can get/afford the Luthier's bench go with that one. The shape of the iron is better. The smaller tighter radius is better for the upper part of the c bout. Especially for Strad model c bout bends that are tighter than del Gesu for instance. That being said, there is an attachment that Stewmac sells the helps with the  c bout bending. The luthiers bench iron heats up more quickly.

[David Burgess]

On 5/28/2021 at 5:50 PM, Muswell said:

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

Based on photos alone, including their photos of it in use (which to me, suggest that nobody there knows how to use a bending iron to best advantage), the Stewmac isn't high on my list.

The "Luthier's Bench" bending iron appears to be quite sturdy, and well-shaped, kinda like the German one I bought 50 years ago, which I am still using. Their bending straps also appear to be along the lines of those I most prefer.

 

[JacksonMaberry]

This was brought up in another thread recently. but a strip of lead flashing makes an excellent bending strap. 

[chiaroscuro_violins]

/

[David Burgess]

11 minutes ago, chiaroscuro_violins said:

The LB straps are extremely thin and want nothing more than to slice your finger off.  They are nice to use, but you have to be aware of this.  

Dang it, one also needs to be aware that bending irons are hot.

What were your fingers doing around the side edges of the strap? Is there some advantage to having them there?

[chiaroscuro_violins]

/

[Muswell]

3 hours ago, chiaroscuro_violins said:

It happened by accident when I was removing it from the packaging it arrived in.  

Easily done the first time you touch one because it is way sharper than you might expect for something which isn't an edge tool. Maybe they hone the edges just for amusement.

[David Burgess]

8 hours ago, chiaroscuro_violins said:

It happened by accident when I was removing it from the packaging it arrived in.  

Yikes! Maybe it was cut on a metal shear, and the edges left that way?

[Mark Norfleet]

12 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

This was brought up in another thread recently. but a strip of lead flashing makes an excellent bending strap. 

The tensile strength of lead isn't adequate for one of the more useful techniques used while bending figured wood.  I doubt it would get me or David through a C bout rib.

1 hour ago, David Burgess said:

Yikes! Maybe it was cut on a metal shear, and the edges left that way?

Quite likely.  Edges like that should really be taken care of before the strap handles are put on and is shipped.

[JacksonMaberry]

51 minutes ago, Mark Norfleet said:

tensile strength of lead isn't adequate

Interesting. I've always found it really handy and easy. What's the technique in question?

[Anthony Panke]

I believe I asked about bending irons 2 years ago. I ended up buying the dictum bending iron. Very happy with it, and though I can't compare it's performance to the luthier's bench one, I can say a few things about it. firstly, it is solidly made. I bolted mine onto a 25mm board of maple to clamp in the vice, and it can take a great deal of force I think. Secondly, it has indicator lights to say whether the specified temperature has been reached. Thirdly, instead of a dial, there are buttons you press to input an exact temperature in degrees Celsius. I really like this, no arbitrary units. It has a good shape too.

  

[Jim Bress]

4 hours ago, David Burgess said:

Yikes! Maybe it was cut on a metal shear, and the edges left that way?

The edges of the straps are not sharp or have any shear burrs. The metal is just very thin.

[J.DiLisio]

On 5/29/2021 at 1:34 PM, David Burgess said:

If I clamp the base to my bench, or in my bench vise, will both the base and the upper heated portion withstand 100 pounds of side force?

I can pull all my weight against it no problem. 

[David Burgess]

1 hour ago, Jim Bress said:

The edges of the straps are not sharp or have any shear burrs. The metal is just very thin.

The website says they are .2mm thick. That's the same as the old GEWA(?)  one I've been using for many years.

[David Burgess]

49 minutes ago, J.DiLisio said:

I can pull all my weight against it no problem. 

Thanks.

[chiaroscuro_violins]

/

[arglebargle]

22 hours ago, Mark Norfleet said:

The tensile strength of lead isn't adequate for one of the more useful techniques used while bending figured wood.  I doubt it would get me or David through a C bout rib.

 

I've used lead flashing since forever. I've never had a piece break or fail while bending and I use the lean back with my whole weight against the iron technique. Just fyi.

[Michael_Molnar]

On 5/28/2021 at 9:10 PM, MWard said:

Anyone use the one International Violin sells?  https://www.internationalviolin.com/ProductDetail/t292_digital-violinviola-bending-iron-110-volt

 

I bought this years ago from Dov Schmidt when it first became available. Still works.

[Arsalan]

On 5/28/2021 at 11:52 AM, uncle duke said:

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. 

Hi there I appreciate if you tell me what’s your iron and where did u buy it please 

thanks