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Post by johnhale on Feb 24, 2016 4:21:55 GMT
Hi guys,
Can anyone help me I'm looking for a UK source for spring steel bending slats (6"x36") as I've just been bought a bending blanket. I can find stainless steel and ordinary mild steel just not spring steel like most people prefer,unless anyone can suggest an alternative.
Thanks
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R the F
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Post by R the F on Feb 24, 2016 7:39:54 GMT
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francis
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Post by francis on Feb 24, 2016 9:13:41 GMT
I use stainless 0.5mm thick. Various places will cut to size for you (Click metal etc) or Flea bay will probably have something...
Were did you get your heat blanket from?
Francis
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Feb 24, 2016 9:46:44 GMT
If I can poke my nose in here, francis ... The man I've linked to above also goes into great detail about sourcing a heat blanket, I seem to remember. Rob |
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Post by donalmcgreevy on Feb 24, 2016 10:02:46 GMT
Keenovo now do a blanket with an integrated digital thermostat. Link. |
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francis
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Post by francis on Feb 24, 2016 11:24:05 GMT
If I can poke my nose in here, francis ... The man I've linked to above also goes into great detail about sourcing a heat blanket, I seem to remember. Rob Thanks will read later... |
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francis
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Post by francis on Feb 24, 2016 11:26:24 GMT
Keenovo now do a blanket with an integrated digital thermostat. Link.Thanks for the link - all Chinese 240V with USA plugs on just makes me a little cautious! |
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colins
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Post by colins on Feb 24, 2016 12:56:52 GMT
Hi John, can't help you with a UK source for the spring steel, I got mine about 15 or so years ago from John Hall (Bluescreek)in the USA along with my blanket. The set up has now bent nearly 200 sides plus 90 or so sets of bindings and look like they'll see me out. The advantage of the spring steel, which I'm sure you already know, is that they stay perfectly flat. What I'm trying (badly) to say is that if you can't find a UK or EU source for them, then I would advise just biting the bullet and getting some over from the US, I know shipping will be ridiculous, but you're only a young man with 50 years of building ahead of you and so cost per year will be small!
Oh and I don't have mine attached to an integrated thermostat, I do use a router controller, basically just a rheostat and I use a separate temperature probe and manually adjust the controller for the temperature I want. Bending sides is not something that you can just automate a lot of it is about feel so I stay with them full time monitoring the temperature. As I said I have bent nearly 200 sides and double that in bindings with my simple set up, and I haven't cracked a side yet and only 2 ebony bindings, so my advice would be not to over complicate a set up, keep it simple.
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Post by johnhale on Feb 28, 2016 11:37:29 GMT
Thanks everyone looks like Colin is right and will need to order from the States
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richm
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Post by richm on Feb 28, 2016 19:53:42 GMT
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R the F
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My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Feb 28, 2016 20:53:58 GMT
These people sell heating mats in the UK and doesn't this site sell spring steel strips or did it close down with Rotherham?
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Jo whoever he is.
