Electric Shank Bender

[Susan Kline]

At 03:02 PM 9/8/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Never have used these.  Butr it seems they would burn the shank.  Do you 
>put water on the shank.
>
>What is the technique for using these pliers or the ones you heat up with 
>a torch
>
>Or how do the rest of you bend warped hammer shanks (w/o the bending pliers)
>
>Thanks
>
>Dick Day
>Marshall MI

You can use either the electric bending pliers or an alcohol lamp (passed 
rapidly along the shank, don't let it sit still) with success if you are 
careful. If you bend by hand with the alcohol lamp, you need to hold the 
part in place until it cools a little. The electric benders work better if 
you keep a sample shank handy to test the heat, and if you have a rheostat 
which can adjust how much current they are getting. If the wood turns brown 
and starts to smoke, the pliers are too hot (natch.) If the sample shank 
doesn't want to bend, they are not hot enough.

Both systems work better on newer shanks, which are more limber and less 
brittle and dried out.

I have had good success with the pliers on brittle old shanks by using 
alcohol first. Dampen a small foam (throw-away) brush with a few drops of 
vodka -- it takes very little, and more would run down and ruin the butt 
leather -- then swab the shank quickly with it. It soaks right in. The 
alcohol evaporates very quickly so that the bending pliers don't set it 
alight. Then when you put on the pliers (tested first for the right amount 
of heat) you get a gentle hiss as the water from the vodka turns to steam. 
At this point the shank will bend without breaking -- well, I've never had 
one break. If you take it too far, dampen again with vodka (the alcohol 
helps the water soak in deep) and bend them back.

It's probably a good idea to practice on some scrap parts first.

Susan