Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...
I've seen some similarly amazing examples of ammonia bending, too. But
as you say, it's hazardous to work with. In a commercial operation, I
imagine there would be all kinds of OSHA and EPA regs to deal with if
you were going to use ammonia. One major advantage of steam is that it
only requires heat and water and produces no pollutants...though some
woods really reek when steamed.

Sawing red oak I've often checked my pants to try and find where
the stench is coming from.I suppose in a commercial(huge) operation
the Federalis would have to be involved but I don't think too much
even then, as any farmer can get ahold of a 2000 gallon tank of the
stuff just by paying cash,and for the most part, if you don't tell
them, how are they going to know? I think it worked different from
steam and heat, in that it chemically plastisized the wood
way past the steam bending phase and placed it in the 'circus freak'
realm of possibilities.