Steam bending??

[splinters]

I'm having trouble bending wood. I have a steam box and am getting good steam pressure in it but my wood keeps either creasing or snapping. I am trying to bend fresh cut willow in the round ranging from half an inch to an inch and a half. The bends arnt all that tight. Iv tryed different lengths of time from an hour to 4 hrs and nothing seems to work. What am I doing wrong and is there a better wood I could be using. Cheers tom

[timbernut]

What type of willow is it as I think some are just to brittle?

[daveindales]

Never used green willow. But with dry ash you need a very straight grained timber

[splinters]

I think it's White willow

[muttley9050]

Just as bad to steam for too long as not long enough. Try about 20mins for the small bits and 40 for the bigger. I've always had good results with hazel and ash. Never tried steaming willow, only bending by hand for baskets.

[slackbladder]

depends on thickness of the timber,half hour per half inch thickness.Temperature needs to reach 100 degrees c

Is the wood green or dry

[Farmerdowling]

Tried boiling?