View Full Version : viable and cheap alternative to stainless?
Luthier
May-10-2005, 3:06pm
Is there any viable and cheaper alternative to the stainless steel strips to use with a heating blanket? Would aluminum flashing for a house work. Any suggestions. I am just looking for a cheaper route. What is the best gauge to use?
I have been bending by hand for awhile now but I am going to give the old heating blanket a whirl.
Don
John Bertotti
May-10-2005, 3:51pm
Are you talking about the hat blanket listed in the classifieds? The previous posts about them make them sound like the way to go for ease and time savings. John
Don, I don't know if you frequent the MIMF.com forum, but there was a lengthy discussion on this just recently. Unfortunately, I'm either being brain-dead on recalling what to search on to find it or it's in purgatory between the live forum and the library. Some folks were suggesting blue steel shim stock (http://www.toolsandsupplies.com/shimstockinfo.htm) instead of stainless. Some were using aluminum flashing, but a number of people (IIRC) thought that this would not support the wood sufficiently.
If you can find that thread I think it will discuss it in more detail than you care to know. Maybe Mario or Ellie or one of the other folks hanging around here and MIMF can direct you to it. In case you're not aware, you'll have to create a login account to access the library.
Paul Doubek
Chris Baird
May-10-2005, 4:05pm
Don, not to derail your thriftyness but if you want a setup like mine I highly suggest .010" SS. I've already been through the "thrifty stage" and it ended up costing me.
P.S. blue spring steel will stain your sides.
Luthier
May-11-2005, 4:27am
Thanks.
I remember in Tom's thread here, he wrapped everything in a damp paper towel and then sandwhiched that.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....+system (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=16657;hl=bending+system )
I never had staining when I have bent by hand over a pipe but the blanket is going to be new to me and I want to get it right.
Don
Chris Baird
May-11-2005, 9:29am
Spring steel will rust and that somehow finds it's way into your side sandwich.
Bill James
May-11-2005, 10:05am
McMaster Carr #9014K81 #.012 #304 stainless shim stock 6.00 by 25.00 # 7.33 ea.
Is that big enough?
Luthier
May-11-2005, 10:28am
I need to have it about 34" to do guitar sides. I shall check McMaster Carr. Great idea.
Don