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Electric Bending Iron PDF
Electric Bending Iron PDF
WIRING DIAGRAM
Hot Wire (Blk)
Dimmer
LINE
LOAD
LINE
GND
< To plug
Neut. Wire (Wht)
Ground (Grn)
CONSTRUCTION
Make a hole toward the center of the plywood piece as big
as the hole in the center of the flange to pass the heating
assembly through. Center the flange on this hole, and
fasten it to the plywood with wood screws. Polish and clean
the section of aluminum conduit, and thread it snugly into
the flange. The 2X4 block is fastened SECURELY below the
flange (on the back side) as a place to fasten or clamp the
bending iron to a bench top.
TESTING
When the socket is wired and mounted to the steel strap,
and the sheet steel heat shield is mounted in place, the
halogen bulb can be placed in the socket. Do not handle the
bulb with your bare fingers oil from your skin will leave
a spot on the bulb that will cause localized heating
internal to the bulb, and will prematurely shorten its
life. When the bulb is in place, mount the strap assembly
in the conduit, making sure the forward wire is running
underneath the heat shield. With the wiring completed and
all the components securely mounted, the unit can now be
tested. Turn down the dimmer switch to the OFF position,
plug the cord into a 3-prong (grounded) outlet, and turn it
on. Slowly increase the dimmer setting until you observe
the bulb glowing inside the tube. Continue increasing the
dimmer until the setting is at maximum. The aluminum
conduit will rapidly heat up at the full setting, and will
retain heat for some time, so use extreme caution around
the tube area. NEVER LEAVE THE BENDER UNATTENDED WHILE IT
IS PLUGGED IN AND ACTIVE!
As the tube heats up, there may be some initial smoke from
the residue on the conduit or the socket, but this should
dissipate fairly quickly. If you notice a great deal of
smoke, visible flame, electric arcing, smell melting
plastic, or observe anything that seems wrong, unplug the
unit immediately. Do not use it again until the problem can
be identified and properly remedied.
To keep the heat in the forward section of the tube, a
small sheet metal guard can be mounted over the hole in the
rear of the plywood. Take care that no sharp edges cut into
or rub on the wiring.
Once the bender has reached operating temperature (a water
drop on the surface of the tube will sizzle and turn to
steam instantly), reduce the setting to maintain just the
heat needed to bend the samples you are using. This will
take some experimentation to get the exact results desired.
Make test bends on samples of the same thickness and
species of wood before attempting bends on your intended
finished parts.
A temperature probe, such as that found on a barbeque
grill, or a non-contact infrared thermometer, can be used
to gauge when the bending iron is ready, or to adjust the
heat for more repeatable results.
As different species of wood respond differently when
bending, it is best to consult with sources most familiar
with a given wood for information regarding how best to
proceed.