Bending Walnut Acoustic Guitar Sides using the LMI Side Bender

For my first acoustic guitar project, I decided to purchase an LMI Side Bender instead of fooling with a bending iron or making some sort of heating pipe. While a bit on the pricy side, I found that the side bender works so well that the time and material savings will help pay for it (eventually!)
This video demonstrates the basic process I used to bend walnut guitar sides with some crotch figure. No cracks or scorching, even on my first attempt!
#luthier
#ggbo
#acousticguitar

[@TheVectorious]

That’s awesome. That jig really did make a difference. That’s one of the most difficult parts.

[@zwitchguitars]

For sure! I'm sure at some point I'll buy a bending iron (or make one), but doing this as a hobby, I can't imagine how many weeks it would take me to get good enough vs. using this method. I already have 2-3 more videos worth of footage I'm so far along on this build.

[@nicholasgeorge7825]

Some improvements on the old Fox bender. Knowing the temperature is a plus. Thanks for the demo.

[@rrsatl]

I missed this one over the summer. Great video.

[@zwitchguitars]

Thanks! I’ve been accumulating a lot of footage of the acoustic process, so once I have time to sit down and edit I’ll have a gang of videos of the build process 🙂

[@tomallen8527]

Thanks for sharing your build with us. Nicely done!

[@zwitchguitars]

Thanks Tom!

[@borgonianevolution]

Thats a hand dandy tool to have around. I think I would (if planning to do a lot of builds this way) adapt roller bearings to the slots where the bars go thru the jig that hold those end rollers in place. Thats going to wear fast with that pressure and dragging along those slots really quickly.

[@zwitchguitars]

Possibly. I think it’s probably easier (for me) to make a new MDF insert, all of the pieces disassemble

[@usujason]

Love this.
What is your setup for creating the voice over?

[@zwitchguitars]

Thanks brother!
I use a Shure SM48 mic into a mixer into the computer. Works well enough to not spend any more money (had it from back in my performing days)