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My question is this: using this setup, does it matter where the rim is positioned or does the contour of the dish take care of that as long as it is close to center?

this should be center to the mold . Also loading a photo you no longer need to do all that typing Look at the bottom and you can just browse the file you want to upload.

Thanks John.

Wow John, what kind of mold is that? Is it metal?

We (KMG) always use center/center but I have seen some drawings where the apex is moved one way or the other -- doubt that it really matters since it is such a small section of a huge sphere segment. I have come to believe that contolling the angle of the contour is also very impotant for consistancy -- that's why we use and also have made this device available.

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/contourfixt.html

that is a metal mold from martin . While the photo isn't mine , I do suspect Dave Nichols shop. I know Lee;s belly anywhere. Martin went to Metal molds a short time ago. I still make the molds for GMC .

"I know Lee's belly anywhere." BINGO!!

If any one remembers Overholzen, (think I have spelling correct)he at one time sold this type of mold and also one with a heating element attached. Know he did a dread but not sure if he had any others.
Tom

Olberholtzer was a little different than this one but is is close. This mold is aluminum. Martin used the Oberholtzer stuff in the 60's but didn't use that stuff for a long time. They were using the universal bender when I started to connect with them in the late 90's and now use self designed machines.
The mold is cast aluminum .