It's Cold Out There

[littlelegs]

The pre-soaking is an odd thing as it depends totally on the source of the article as to whether it's worth doing. Many say not....unless you use fabric conditioner which apparently does the same with wood as with clothing i.e. softens if and makes it more flexible. I've not had enough experience yet to form an opinion one way or another.

I've also learned by trial and error that although you can over-steam it it's still way better than under-steaming

And yep...would have been a great summer time project. With just a little hindsight....

Oh and finally it's my father-in-laws driveway. Even Mainers would get pissy if we closed the road off just to do that

[kev3inp]

I just watched a "How It's Made" where they were making lacrosse sticks with steam bending. Oh, and it's 77 down here right now. I don't miss winter a bit. Down to the 40's at night later in the week. We might have to turn off the AC and turn on the heater. Cold hurts!

[tumblebug1949]

littlelegs,

The only thing I can think of that would give soaking the wood in water an advantage is that water should be good for conducting heat and maybe keeping the heat even across the wood. I may have to try this some day. Make some good walking canes or something. I was also reading about having sampling pieces of wood being steamed and using them to insure the actual piece is ready to bend.

OK, last question. Is that a commercial electric steaming box?

tempature 41 degrees and holding at 1:30pm
Tom

[littlelegs]

We built the steam box. We're trying again today and managed with one piece ok Final piece is in the box now. We're reaching 200 degrees with a 2nd steam source which is right where we need to be. There's no more spare wood left so here's hoping this last piece bends properly...

[littlelegs]

The bending's finished A few minor splits that we can patch (not convinced the wood was air dried) but structurally sound at the bends. Now the easier bit of just screwing it together.

toboggan-bent.jpg

[johncongdon]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Being in Florida, we don't get to do that kind of fun stuff. Neat project, good luck with it.

[littlelegs]

I have a friend who lives in the keys and was complaining it was cold because it hit the 40's at some stage this week. That was the night we hit -1

[mhrinko]

It's currently 18 degrees in Northeast PA. We had 1/2 an inch of snow two nights ago....But theres no better way to warm up then with a little bowling with friends

[littlelegs]

Snow is scarce for us this year. Portland usually get less snow than much of Maine as is still 9" below the average. Where we are in central Maine even more so. A shame as we enjoy winter sports and the man made snow isn't quite the same and doesn't get produced on all the runs.