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It Finally Happened To Me....
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=7636		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:30 pm ]
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....and from the attached picture(s) can you tell what it was?



How about this one?



And the inside:



Did you notice what used to be the wire nuts? They are just a puddle of melted plastic now.
Yup, turn your back from your bender for just a minute, and you end up going to bed with the silly thing still on. I had gone up to the shop to set the bend in some pretty Koa bindings. Well, the bend is set now! I've never seen charcoal with such a memory:



It was just a fluke that took me back into the shop this a.m. I was on my way out of town, but thought I needed to go get something. Then I found all this. (And, unplugged it, for sure.) Well, I regret the loss of the bindings, the ruined bender, but I am so grateful that nothing worse happened.

Now---what's the name of that timer you guys use??????

Thanks,

Steve
Author:  Jeff Doty [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:33 pm ]
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Steve,

Whew! Man that could have been a bad, bad scene. Time for a heat blanket and timer. I got mine from John Hall, and it is idiot proof, just what I need!

Sure glad that you had a reason to go back to the shop.

Jeff
Author:  L. Presnall [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:46 pm ]
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Wow Steve! Maybe John Hall could change his phone number to 911 and one call would take care of it all! Seriously tho, I'm glad it was only a bender and some bindings! All that can be replaced...(and I no longer believe in "flukes"!! ). If I had any Koa bindings left, I'd give 'em to ya!
Author:  old man [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:04 pm ]
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Wow, I'll certainly pay close attention to mine. Sorry about that.

Ron
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:28 pm ]
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I'm glad nothing worse happened Steve. Man, That's a very close call.
Author:  burbank [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:44 pm ]
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You're a very lucky man, Steve! I appreciate seeing near-disaster posts that turn out well (relatively, anyway). Helps us all in keeping our eyes open.

I bought a timer wall switch at the Borg, with a switchbox. My blanket is always plugged into it, as is my space heater. Cost me 30 bucks.
Author:  Michael McBroom [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:45 pm ]
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Steve,

Seriously, I'm glad to read that nothing major happened.

As for the brand of my timer, it is a Gralab model 300 darkroom timer. Good for 60 seconds up to 60 minutes and it has outlets that you can plug your side-bender into (in the old days, it would have been an enlarger). They are plentiful on eBay. I think I paid about $30 for mine. Truly set-it-and-forget-it. Don't leave home without one.



Best,

Michael
Michael McBroom38920.0364583333
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:57 pm ]
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Sure glad to hear you are still alive to tell the tale Steve, it was a real close call my friend, thanks for being humble enough to come forward and remind us of the dangers of this practice!

Serge
Author:  Billy T [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:44 pm ]
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That could of been BAD!

Important safety tip: Never go to sleep when bending wood! I got it! I'll remember that one!

Good to hear things are OK Steve!
Author:  RussellR [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:31 pm ]
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Pheew, Steve

Well done for stopping that one in its tracks, what ever sort of timer you go with make ut a good quality one, as some of the cheap ones can be unreliable.
Author:  Cecil [ Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:45 pm ]
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Steve,

Been there, done that. It sure improved my memory untill I got a timer. My shoop smelled of chared wood for weeks. I,m srure wer'er not the only ones to avert disaster by a fluke but this kind of fluke is good.

Glad every thing turned dout as good as it did.

Cecil
Author:  Dave White [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:05 am ]
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The things some people will do to have a barbeque

Steve - I'm glad you came out relatively unscathed.
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:08 am ]
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I go as far as shutting off the shop power breaker when I leave the shop. EVERY time.

Timers and temp contollers, smoke detectors, child monitors to hear the detectors if they're far away from where you are.... Aluminum lined forms.... So many ways to alert/prevent a mishap. Use them ALL!

You are a man of God, and many people depend on you to walk in wisdom. Sounds like you got fertile soil to grow in! Nuff said.

Steve, I am SOOOO glad it wasn't worse. Time to completely redesign that bending station/procedure! It's worth any money you invest in it too! Just ask your family, friends and congregation! They'll tell you!

Now go write a great object lesson/sermon. I'd love to hear it. Look forward to seeing it in a book or tape series Terry Stowell38920.3890277778
Author:  Dickey [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:05 am ]
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PTL

Woolson comes to mind.

Halleleujah!

Your shop lives to luth another day. Man!
Author:  Dickey [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:18 am ]
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Heavy Duty Grounded Timer

Steve, just toss out the on controls and use only the off ones. Set it for no more than you want say one hour, the power goes off and cannot come back on until reset. simple. sorry. but glad that's all you lost. wow.



Intermatic Grounded Timer 9.99 $ US.
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:54 am ]
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I'll one up you Bruce, if you only need a heating blanket on for 5-10 minutes, a minute timer is safer yet, long as it's heavy duty.

I'm the safety expert in my house. I may sound like overkill, but I'll never apologize for saving life and property. I'd never stop apologizing for hurting someone for lack of foresight, cutting corners, etc.

BTW, your insurance man needs to see what you're doing to take preventive measures, otherwise they may not cover your losses. Beleive me, they aren't all in the business of throwing money at every non-UL, non fire-code, non electrical code, jerry rigged accident! If they saw half of our home made stuff, they wouldn't even write a policy for us at all.

Let's take heed. We are involved in a high risk endeavor. Wisdom cries aloud from the streets!

Sermon over.
Author:  Dickey [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:35 am ]
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[QUOTE=Terry Stowell] Wisdom cries aloud from the streets! [/QUOTE]

Question: IF wisdom cries aloud from the street, but the luthier is gone on vacation, does anyone hear?

A really close call.

Question 2: Steve, is this a closed box? Was there an air source for your bender?

I've seen electrical panel fires due to the fact that the cover was off. IF air can't get to the fire sometimes it smothers itself. A good reason to keep electrical panels in place and tight at all times.
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:46 am ]
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Glad to hear the nothing worse happened, Steve. That was a close call..

Author:  charliewood [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:52 am ]
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[QUOTE=Michael McBroom] Steve,

Seriously, I'm glad to read that nothing major happened.

As for the brand of my timer, it is a Gralab model 300 darkroom timer. Good for 60 seconds up to 60 minutes and it has outlets that you can plug your side-bender into (in the old days, it would have been an enlarger). They are plentiful on eBay. I think I paid about $30 for mine. Truly set-it-and-forget-it. Don't leave home without one.



Best,

Michael
[/QUOTE]

I have the same timer - I got the Mandomaniac bending system as it had the blankets, timer, stainless .10 slats, temp controller and quick connects that allow a swift switch of different size blankies. It was a bit pricey, at $325 but when I see things like that,
it reaffirms my confidence in such a purchase, as Im the kind of guy who just might space out something like that.
Im really glad you didnt have a disaster on your hands!
thanks goodness,
Cheers
Charlie
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:53 am ]
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Not just a good fluke maybe, sometimes it is good to listen to those voices in your head!

Glad you and yours are okay.
Author:  Sprockett [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:03 am ]
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Steve...

I use the one from LMI, it allows me to control the heat and has a timer. It's a time tested design, there are some areas where I just won't skimp and this is one of them. I've never had an issue with it, it's not cheap but given the alternative it's good to know I can trust it...

-Paul-
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:49 am ]
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Thanks for your kind regards, guys, and the genuine concern. What happened is something like this:
My shop has an upstairs / downstairs configuration. All the bending jigs are upstairs. I'm *always* very cognizant about bending, and not leaving the form unattended. So, a couple of nights ago, I went upstairs to just set the bend in those bindings, came downstairs, and got distracted by something. (And there's always plenty to distract me downstairs.) I guess the older I get, the more absent-minded I become; for-- whatever got my attention downstairs completely displaced what I had just done upstairs! I thought about the new subject for awhile, and then went to bed. After turning all the shop lights off!

Bruce, the box is indeed basically closed. You see the bottom with the bulbs, and the shaped part fits over it, with maybe a 1/8" gap between ends.

Larry, I don't believe in "flukes" either. That's why I put them in quotation marks. And thanks for the binding offer, but I've got more. (I am seriously low in Brazilian rosewood though.... )

Thanks again for the advice and info.
And behold what just two 200 watt bulbs can do!
It seems so safe....

Steve

P.S. Ok, Larry, it was in italics, not in quotation marks. But the sentiment still stands.Steve Kinnaird38920.6204282407
Author:  MSpencer [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:01 am ]
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Steve, lucky break on the timing, glad to see you and your shop is OK. I as you know am getting older as well and my memory at times is less than stellar. I just recently put a battery powered smoke detector in my shop because I had done the same thing once upon a time. In my situation, I was only gone for about 30 minutes and just in another part of my yard visiting some folks who stopped by to see my waterfeatures. I returned to a smoke filled room.

Something to consider, since your shop is part of your primary home as well.

Mike
White Oak, Texas
Author:  Brian Hawkins [ Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:24 am ]
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Glad to see no one was hurt Steve!! Let me know if you need more Koa binding material for that build--it's on me.
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