Steaming Or Bending Wood

Hugh · #1 08-24-2005, 07:43 PM

A friend called me and asked what I knew about bending wood. He is trying to steam bend ash. He is trying to bend it in a 9" circle to make a toboggan. The strips are 5/16 thick and 3 " wide. Should the stick be in the water when steaming, or just in steam, should it be dry wood, or green. What kind of wood is best. Any information or hints would be appreciated.

decoycarve · #2 08-24-2005, 08:38 PM

We made a steamer out of a piece of 4" pvc wrapped in insulation. We used a wallpaper steamer as a steam generator. You aso have to have a jig mold or blank ready. When the wood comes out You need to bend it around the template and fasten it and let dry for a couple of days. We were bending mahogany and cherry around a basswood blank to make bentwood boxes. It took a lot of experimentation in the beginning to get it right. What would work one day wouldn,t work the next.
Goody

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #3 08-24-2005, 08:45 PM

the very few times I bent any wood, I sliced it real thin, soaked the strips and then bent and put in form, then glue inbetween the strips when dry...works...

squbrigg · #4 08-24-2005, 09:09 PM

Hugh, wood will bend best if well steamed. Beech bends well, ash should be okay if fairly green. I do lots of bending for some of my ship models, planking the hull, though the planks are very thin......1/32", 1/16", etc. PVC works well, is cheap and you don't need a complicated set up. A "T" with lengths on either side to accomodate the wood (cap the ends to help keep the steam in.), set on a holder over a tea kettle directly under the open bottom of the "T" will work. About 5 min. per 1/32" of thickness should work fine. Take the planks out and bend them over a frame/mould to shape and hold till set or cool. They will retain their new shape. Your friend can make this kind of set up using PVC large enough to handle his stock and to what ever length he needs. Photo attached.

Bob

Hugh · #5 08-25-2005, 06:12 AM

Thanks for the replies on steaming wood. I copied them and passed them on to my friend.

muffy · #6 08-25-2005, 07:31 AM

For Hugh,on Bending Wood. If U Go Onto Google And Type In((info On Bending Wood,)i Think U Will Get All The Info You'll Ever Want. .. Dan.. I Hope This Helps You...

Ashbys · #7 09-01-2005, 07:33 AM

Hugh,

We use to make toboggans in our high school wood shop. We soaked them in a water barrel for if I remember correctly 3 days before we tried to bend them. Then rolled them and clamped them into place all together while they cured. We did have a few that split even after soaking them.

Ash