Electric Shank Bender

[Avery Todd]

I "assume" we're talking about this for the purpose of "burning" shanks
to straighten things up. On a grand? For that, I don't see the reason for
it. On a vertical, maybe. Although, I've used a heat gun (which is what
I normally use for this) on verticals as well as grands.

Otherwise, if the shank is actually bent, then I can see using the "bender".

Avery

At 01:13 PM 09/08/03 -0700, you wrote:
>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
>
>
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