"MarshallE" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi,

I am new to the concept of steam bending and am experimenting with
very little success.

In easy terms to understand how flexible would a piece of oak that is
1" thick x 3" wide become?

How tight of radius can be formed before breaking the piece?

I experimented with laying a short piece on top of a boiling pot of
water with a lid above the oak for 1.5 hours and could not tell any
difference between before and after. It was still very rigid.

How flexible should the wood be if using a steam box? I understand
how to build the steam box.

I just don't have a bench mark to estimate how much or little force is
needed to bend. I have heard people say that it turns the wood into a
noodle for a short amount of time. Based on my limited
experiment...I find this hard to believe.

One more question is how much of the integrity is lost after
application of the steam? I have heard that the steam destroys the
cell structure of the wood.

My alternate is to saw the wood from thicker to make the frames
needed.

thanks,
marshall


Try posting on the rec woodworking NG there has been a lot of posts on
steaming wood over the years there. If you can find the archives for that
group you should be able to find you answers and more.
Jim