A bit of bending

[Woodworks]

Doing a job that needs a few curved components so thought I would post up some pics.

 

The main arch is just laminated but the second piece has bit too tight a curve to manage in one so have first steam bent the laminates before glueing them together.

 

First the arch which was relatively straight forward. No pics of it being made I am afraid.

[mendiplogs]

Doing a job that needs a few curved components so thought I would post up some pics.

 

The main arch is just laminated but the second piece has bit too tight a curve to manage in one so have first steam bent the laminates before glueing them together.

 

First the arch which was relatively straight forward. No pics of it being made I am afraid.

HI WOOD that very nice well done there mate jon

[Woodworks]

Now the pieces I hope to make some handles from starting with the constructional veneer being steamed with very basic steam box and placed on the jig that will be also used for glueing it on. I will leave them on the mould until cool and then place them individually between two battens to dry for at least 24 hours prior to glueing them all together. Hope that makes sense I can take a picture of the last bit later today or tomorrow if it doesn't

[Woodworks]

Once the laminates have completely dried from the steaming they get glued together.

[Woodworks]

Thanks Jon

 

It's not finished yet but will posts some picture when all done and you can try and guess what it is

[dervishcarving]

nice bit of bending there. My bodging groups have just made some large steamers (long UPVC water pipe with end-caps of wood, not tight fitting) and we hope to start chair construction again soon. never tried it myself, looking forward to learning a new thing

im assuming bending veneer thickness is a lot easier/safer than bending full-thickness wood? complete novice here so my questions might be dumb

[Woodworks]

"im assuming bending veneer thickness is a lot easier/safer than bending full-thickness wood? complete novice here so my questions might be dumb"

 

Not a dumb question and yes much easier than full thickness chair components.

 

Never done big stuff myself but watched it done at a chairmakers workshop. The wood was very carefully chosen and steamed in a pipe much as you describe but with a rag as the end bung so any condensate could drain out. Can't remember how long the wood was left in the steam box but think at least half an hour or more before being over bent around a mould as they spring back a bit when released. Even with the very carefully chosen wood there was a fair failure rate. It was a husband and wife team and they could make a chair in a matter of hours. They had the tiniest workshop but where complete masters of their trade turning out beautiful chairs.

Edited May 10, 2014 by Woodworks

[dervishcarving]

great, thanks for the info

[agg221]

If you keep going with the steam for longer the wood becomes softer - most of the replacement planks in my boat had to be steam-bent in, being 2" thick x up to 10" wide oak, some with simultaneous bend and twist. I found a couple of hours at temperature was enough, using a steamer made from an old coal-fired domestic boiler with the thermocouple lopped off and plumbed into a fridge freezer which had had the CFCs drained off and suitable slots cut in the ends. Sounds crude but it did the whole boat and finally rotted through on the boiler after about 15yrs.

 

I had it easy though - Thames Barge planks are 3" thick!

 

With thicker stuff you get much less loss if you are patient and give it enough steaming time to go like rubber but if you want to do it more quickly, make sure there are no knots or wavy grain on the outer face as it usually starts to go from there. With a long steaming time, I got away with some serious face defects and only cracked one plank (which got caulked in anyway as it split along the grain rather than across it).

 

Alec

Edited May 10, 2014 by agg221

[se7enthdevil]

rule of thumb is an inch per hour but as alec say the longer you leave it the softer it is.

 

i have seen 6" solid lumber bent before on a vid, i'll see if i can find it.