Homemade bending pipe

[Monkmusic]

Hey folks. Still on my first build. I decided I wanted to use EIR bindings instead of the black plastic that came with the stewmac kit. Got this 8" black pipe at Home Depot were the clerk told me that you can't heat galvanized pipe. I'm so glad I asked. Anyway, it was cheap and it works well. I might try to bend sides with it at some point in the future.





I also used the pipe as an anvil to install the frets. Learned this from one of John Hall's videos.



I am officially addicted to this hobby. It's been a blast.

Photo journal

[tippie53]

I know what you mean I am currently on #174

[ColestineGuitar]

Hah! I've got a nearly identical setup in my shop. I've used it to bend sides. Problem is, it takes... ummmm... skill. I'm working on a bending method that doesn't require as much... skill... as the pipe, or as much Money as a fox-style bender. So far I've used a household iron to good effect. The only downside to the iron is wearing the frilly apron.

Still, I've seen people who are very good with a simple pipe like you have there. It works!

[David L]

In my opinion you made a good decision the go with wood binding instead of plastic. I personally think that plastic makes a guitar look, well, cheap. I have seen some nice looking guitars with plastic binding but wood just makes it look more prestigious. I'm just not a big fan of plastic anything.
Oh yeah, keep posting pictures, we love pictures!!!

David L

Hey Monk, I thought everyone knew not to ask questions at Home Depot. :-))
Nice set of photos and nice job on the guitar. How did the headstock get
damaged? Did you receive it that way?
-tommy

[Linus]

Why can't you heat a galvanized pipe?

[JLT]

Why can't you heat a galvanized pipe?

My guess would be that when the zinc heats up, it out-gasses and is not good for you to breathe.

[MaineGeezer]

I did something similar with a piece of heay-wall aluminum pipe, which I beat on a bit with a sledgehammer to make it oval and give a choice of radii. I stuffed a sort-of helix of aluminum flashing inside to attempt to swirl the torch flame and give better heat transfer.

So far I've used it only to bend the sides for my dulcimer project, which required much more gentle bends than a guitar would. It worked pretty well, but I'll get to really test it with the upcoming bends of guitar sides. Or I may use Carter's electric bending iron.


(Carter is the luthier who's guiding me through my guitar build project.)

[mnmusic]

Why can't you heat a galvanized pipe?

My guess would be that when the zinc heats up, it out-gasses and is not good for you to breathe.

That is correct so please everyone don't use galvanized pipe for a bender. Another tip. If you use black pipe, it's coated with a type of vanish to protect it. It would be a good idea to clean it off with some denatured alcohol.

[David L]

Burning it off would probably be more fun but again, careful of the fumes. (frigging pyro)

David L