Bmth Builder Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I made this fret bender for a 12" radius http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/bender.htm but when I put the fret wire in and bend it to shape it just pops back out to semi straight again, how can I get it to keep the 12" shape? Do I have to clamp it on the caul for a while or something? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeP Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I tried that one a long time ago and had the same problem. Make one of these Fret bender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesy Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I made this fret bender for a 12" radius http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/bender.htm but when I put the fret wire in and bend it to shape it just pops back out to semi straight again, how can I get it to keep the 12" shape? Do I have to clamp it on the caul for a while or something? Cheers What I did, using a similar bender, it used it as a guide. I fed the fret wire into the slot from one end, holding the wire down with the palm of my hand, and with my other hand, I pre-bent the wire as I fed it on. I could tell if I was bending it the right amount easily, by the way it sat in the slot, and the tang sitting in the slot prevented the fretwire wanting to twist as I bent it. Worked quite well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I'll second the link Mike P posted. I think the price is about $5 higher now, but it works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I'll second the link Mike P posted. I think the price is about $5 higher now, but it works great. +1 more. I tried the one in the tutorial and it didn't work. The other one works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 i didnt feel like investing my time into making one, so i opted to but one from stewmac works perfectly. no complaints, keeps a constant radius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 i dont even get how the tutorial one is supposed to work. what do you even do with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I ended up getting the one that LMI sells and it works great. Cheaper than the Stewmac one I believe as well. For those who don't have the access or desire to make one, the fret benders are a good alternative. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmth Builder Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Would it matter too much if the fret wire was not radiused at all before fretting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKro Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Woodenspoke was making Fret benders for awhile. Nice quality and better price than Stewmac. Not sure if he still is though. Try PMing him. HEY WOODENSPOKE YOU STILL OUT THERE? MK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesy Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Would it matter too much if the fret wire was not radiused at all before fretting? It's just easier to make sure it's well seated on the ends, particularly if you are hammering it in, like I do. On my first neck, I just gave the length of wire a bit of a curve by hand before cutting off pieces for frets. It turned out nice and flat, not requiring much/any levelling. As I said in a earlier post, now I just use the tool described in the OP as a template and to prevent the wire wanting to twist as I bend it. I have watched a video on youtube where the guitar maker just bends it a bit by hand too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Don't try fretting without radiusing. You *might* get away with it if you glued in frets into an ebony board with an arbor press, but your still risking spring back. Better to make or purchase a stewmac style bender. You won't be sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticraft Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 I use a 7-1/4" radius block and bend the fret wire over it with a pair of pliers holding the tang so it cant twist and work it thru bit by bit. Once it springs back it pretty close to 12" radius. It is always better to overbend slightly than underbend so the fret ends seat well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesy Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 I use a 7-1/4" radius block and bend the fret wire over it with a pair of pliers holding the tang so it cant twist and work it thru bit by bit. Once it springs back it pretty close to 12" radius. It is always better to overbend slightly than underbend so the fret ends seat well. I cut piece of plywood into a curve and sawed a slot into the edge. Keeping the tang in the slot stops the twisting as you bend the fretwire around the curve. MY problem was that it springs back (the wood has a 12" curve) so if I make a new one with about 7" radius, then it sounds like I'll have a tool that will work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmth Builder Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 Overbending by hand and then using the radius to bend it back into 12" is working alright atm, my no means perfect though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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