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Thread: Pictures of tools you have made

  1. #1
    Registered User Keith Newell's Avatar
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    Here are three pictures of tools I made to help out on the mando making. This picture is of my side bending iron. I bought the one that is mostly advertised but realized its more for guitars so I made a new aluminum piece and mounting flange. The peice is from 7075 aluminum but has a 303 stainless steel mounting flange. The 303 ss has a heat transfer rate approx. 1/10 that of the aluminum so I figured I wouldnt burn up my gasket or wooden base. The 3 diameters really help with those F style sides.
    #WORD OF WARNING TO THOSE WITH THIS UNIT.
    The original is made from sand cast aluminum and thus it is pretty porous. When you use water mist on your wood as you bend it the water turns to steam and some of it gets inside your cast aluminum piece through microscopic pores. When I took it apart the ground wire was almost totally corroded off and there was corrosion inside the aluminum mandrel. Anyway there is more mass but it is smaller over all and doesnt have the dead air space inside the unit like the original and it heats up quick and doesnt work the thermostat as hard because of the mass.
    Keith Newell
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  2. #2
    Registered User Keith Newell's Avatar
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    This is a cool little fixture for bending the binding on F styles. There are two different shapes, one on each side with different arcs. All you do is insert bunding in slot, I use a toothpick in the locking notch to anchor it and bend around it COLD. Then take a hair dryer or heat gun to heat it. Let it cool for 20 seconds and its got a nice smooth arc.
    Keith Newell



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  3. #3
    Registered User Keith Newell's Avatar
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    Last picture is of a template I use to scribe the nut spacing for the strings. I build alot of similiar width necks so I made this stainless steel template that has slots the exact width for my mechanical pencil. I just lay it on the nut and scribe so I know where to start filing.
    Keith Newell
    http://www.newellmandolins.com
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  4. #4
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    Hello Keith,
    Thank you for this thread. I always like to see pics, and descriptions of tools and jigs that you guys and gals use to make mandolins and other stringed instruments. As a struggling new builder I like to get all the help I can.
    Thanks again,
    Stanley
    Great Granpas are just Antique little boys.

    Pick up a STORM

  5. #5
    Registered User TomServo's Avatar
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    Keith, don't give away all your secrets to your fine mandolins.

  6. #6
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    Holy Smoke,
    7075....probably T6...Do you think it will handle rentry?[G]....g

  7. #7
    Registered User Keith Newell's Avatar
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    I hope! Then it would be hot enough to bend like crazy for awhile

  8. #8

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    Come on, Gavin, I know you've got some cool stuff.

  9. #9

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    pictures of homemade tools , good idea
    here is my homemade duplicarver .
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  10. #10

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    other view
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  11. #11

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    the system of slide
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  12. #12

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    last pic
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  13. #13

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    hoops ! one more
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  14. #14
    GaryM
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    Here's my bending setup. I decided to experiment so I ordered 2 one inch heating strips from the supplier...so the wood gets heat from both sides. (no burning) I think I got the temp down to 275 deg. ...but I've pushed ahead my completion date for #1 to 2009. I really admire all you builders out there!
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  15. #15

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    Here is my A-style bending setup. #It looks simple and it is, but it works wonderfully. #The turnbuckles triangulate off the dowels such that you leap frog each turnbuckle to the next dowel by slowly taking tension off one and putting it on another. #It provides a considerable amount of even and consistant backing pressure while slowly forcing the wood into the curve. #I've tested it with highly figured maple that is .130" thick, no cracks, no bumps, just perfect curve. #I've almost got the F-style version made but I will let you folks figure that one out. #



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  16. #16

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    Mandoplyr, is that built into your floor? I see a conspicuous foot there
    That's a very nice jig.

    Brian

  17. #17
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Chris, Are you seaming your A-models at each end? Or just at the neck
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

  18. #18

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    I'm standing on my work bench taking the pic, all the electonics are built under the work surface. As soon as I work the bugs out of the f-style jigs I'll probably make a dedicated universal bending table with interchangable forms using eye bolt anchors instead of the dowels.

    I join at the tailpiece and (sort of) the neck end.

  19. #19
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    Thanks Chris! You've given me some good insight in how I'll construct my heat blanket bending set-up.

  20. #20
    Registered User Luthier's Avatar
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    Excellent!!! Half the fun is inventing new ways to carry out the operations. Kudos to you all.
    http://www.donkawalek.com
    "The only thing achieved in life without effort is failure."
    Dum Vixi Tacui Mortua Dulce Cano

  21. #21

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    SOS GaryM , Mandoplyr , where have you found your heating strips , I've just pass all my day today for bending a high figured maple with the usual method ( my fingers are burned ) , and see that tonight , I'm so stupid .
    your gigs are amazing

  22. #22

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    I got my heating blanket from Tom Durr. I think he has an add running in the classifieds. The componet system he has plans for work well together. I didn't, however, have any luck with his style of jigs and execution.

  23. #23

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    Thank you Mandoplyr , I must try to find Tom Durr ,
    I must also try to find this here in France , but don't know where .

  24. #24

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    French Guy, Add # 11325 in the classifieds.

  25. #25

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    Yes , just when you wrote that , I was about read the 11325
    thank a lot.

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