It's Cold Out There

[littlelegs]

I'm attempting to steam bend some wood for a toboggan. Never tried it before so the results could be...interesting.

The steam box has been going for about 45 mins now (15 mins time we find out if this worked) and has icicles hanging off of it. When a warm box filled with steam at close to boiling temps has icicles forming you know it's cold out.

[got_a_300]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................... that does sound like it is cold there
thank goodness it is 50°F with bright ☼ sunshine here .

[littlelegs]

We managed to split one piece and only have one spare so hoping the last 4 pieces bend OK. It's really tough to find a supplier for the wood hence having none spare.

The steam box now has its own little bubblewrap jacket to see if that helps.

[tumblebug1949]

It was 50 degrees or more here also. Hope your steaming wood to bend works. I always thought that would be interesting.

Tom

[StormGirl]

What is steam bending wood? First time hearing the term. I wish it would get a little colder here in Georgia. The weather feels like we're stuck in fall still.

[tumblebug1949]

Hey StormGirl,

I will trade you but it has to be for all year. I can have my harley polished up and ready to go in no time.

As far as steam bending of wood, little legs can probably explain in more detail but if wood is subjected to steam for a period of time. it becomes flexible. If you want to bend wood in a "U" you can. Maybe to make a walking stick or cane. You might want to bend wood to make runners on a sled. Once the wood is taken out of the steam and allowed to dry out, it will retain the bend.

Good Bowling

[bdpeters]

it is nice to see folks still practicing this sort of craft and keeping the skills alive, kinda like glass blowing. I certainly could handle some fall weather again.

Bri

[littlelegs]

It's for the front of a toboggan as it needs to be a U shape. We've decided to have a go at the Camden National Toboggan Championships this year so I'm building one. First time trying to steam bend wood.

The basics are simple enough. If you can get non-kiln dried wood up to 200 degrees+ it becomes flexible. Steam's the easiest way to do this without drying the wood out. The steam itself doesn't help the bending oddly, other than as a vehicle for the heat to penetrate (probably more than you ever wanted/needed to know about bending wood).

Unfortunately we didn't get it hot enough first attempt and 3 pieces snapped so we've got another steam source now to try again.

A picture for those not bored to death already.The box on the right is the steam box, the left is the bending jig and the broken piece is because we suck at bending wood (but are getting better )

steam2.jpg

[tumblebug1949]

Hey littlelegs,

Are you saying it is the temperature that allows the wood to be bent and not the use of steam necessarily? I have never tried it but always thought it was the steam.

Good picture of the jig and steam box.

Hope it works for you and you do well in the race.

P can't believe the local police department let you block the road like that. Course it is winter and probably not much traffic there.

Good Luck

[tumblebug1949]

I did some research on the subject and learned a lot. I didn't know you could over steam and the it needed to be timed very closely. I also learned it can help to pre soak the wood.

Seems to me this would have been a great summer time project

Tom