Brian Nystrom ) writes:

When I've soaked wood, all it did was make is swell so it no longer fit
where it was supposed to, such as in a mortise. Either that, or if it
was trimmed to fit after steaming, it shrank as it dried and became
loose. Soaking didn't seem to make any difference in the bend-ability of
the wood.

softwoods would have more of a tendancy to swell. TF Jones writes that a
nice piece of 15-20 year old oak needs soaking before steam bending.

A 1"x1" piece of clear oak properly steamed can be tied in a knot. Not
something I've ever tried.

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On 7 Mar 2004 00:01:32 GMT, (William R.
Watt) wrote:


A 1"x1" piece of clear oak properly steamed can be tied in a knot. Not
something I've ever tried.

I'll try it sometime, and post pictures :-)

-m

Ive done it using 2" copper pipe heated on a gas stove
"Max Camirand" wrote in message
...
On 7 Mar 2004 00:01:32 GMT, (William R.
Watt) wrote:


A 1"x1" piece of clear oak properly steamed can be tied in a knot. Not
something I've ever tried.

I'll try it sometime, and post pictures :-)

-m

I recall seeing plans for a steamer that was basically a long piece of
copper pipe connected to a tea kettle. It was probably in a strip canoe
book. I'll look around and see if I can find it again.

wrote:

I recall seeing plans for a steamer that was basically a long piece of
copper pipe connected to a tea kettle. It was probably in a strip canoe
book. I'll look around and see if I can find it again.

My first steam generator was a tea kettle on a hot plate. It had several
downsides: limited water capacity, modest steam production, it was too
easily kicked over and it could pose a fire hazard if the kettle ran dry
(don't ask me how I know this).

These days, I use a Wagner wallpaper steamer. It holds a gallon,
produces lots of steam, runs for over an hour on one fill, has an
overheat shutoff and the self contained unit (the size of a car battery)
can be positioned well away from the steam box where it's less prone to
be knocked around (it has an 11' hose). It's fine for steaming the parts
I use in kayaks, but something larger would be needed for parts for
bigger boats that require extended steaming times.

William R. Watt wrote:

Brian Nystrom ) writes:


When I've soaked wood, all it did was make is swell so it no longer fit
where it was supposed to, such as in a mortise. Either that, or if it
was trimmed to fit after steaming, it shrank as it dried and became
loose. Soaking didn't seem to make any difference in the bend-ability of
the wood.


softwoods would have more of a tendancy to swell.

True. Before I knew any better, I tried steam bending a pine breasthook
(my first attempt at steaming anything. It sort of bent (it didn't need
much bend) and I was so excited that I immediately pegged it in place
and and planed it to shape. It looked great. The next morning, I came
down and to my dismay, it had shrunk ~1/8" in width (it was only 2"
wide) and ~ 1/16" in length (over 8 inches).

TF Jones writes that a
nice piece of 15-20 year old oak needs soaking before steam bending.

I haven't worked with anything that old, but I fail to see where age
would make any difference. Once the wood equilibrates to the humidity of
its environment, it's not going to get any drier. If it bends well at a
given moisture content, what difference would age make?

A 1"x1" piece of clear oak properly steamed can be tied in a knot. Not
something I've ever tried.

Me neither, nor have I seen anyone do it. Having worked with green,
clear oak that I've carefully cut from a log myself, I have to wonder
what the success rate of such an endeavor is? I suspect that it's only
possible with wood that has been split, rather than sawn.

William R. Watt wrote:
: Brian Nystrom ) writes:

: When I've soaked wood, all it did was make is swell so it no longer fit
: where it was supposed to, such as in a mortise. Either that, or if it
: was trimmed to fit after steaming, it shrank as it dried and became
: loose. Soaking didn't seem to make any difference in the bend-ability of
: the wood.

: softwoods would have more of a tendancy to swell. TF Jones writes that a
: nice piece of 15-20 year old oak needs soaking before steam bending.

Well you usually would prefer to steambend oak that was freshly cut
down int eh forest because it's moisture content is high. The Vikings
(and others) used to take freshly riven oak stock and submerge them
in a bog to keep them wet until they were used. But there, they were
trying to retain moisture - not add it in.

I dont' see where soaking 20 year old oak is going to make much
difference.


: A 1"x1" piece of clear oak properly steamed can be tied in a knot. Not
: something I've ever tried.

Hav eyou ever SEEN this done? With what length of wood? How tight a
knot?

I bend white oak for boat ribs all the time and they never get that
flexible.



--- Gregg

My woodworking projects:


Replicas of 15th-19th century nautical navigational instruments:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/backstaffhome.html

Restoration of my 82 year old Herreshoff S-Boat sailboat:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/SBOATrestore.htm

Steambending FAQ with photos:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/Steambend.htm



"Improvise, adapt, overcome."

Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Phone: (617) 496-1558

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Gregg Germain wrote in message ...
William R. Watt wrote:
: Brian Nystrom ) writes:

: When I've soaked wood, all it did was make is swell so it no longer fit
: where it was supposed to, such as in a mortise. Either that, or if it
: was trimmed to fit after steaming, it shrank as it dried and became
: loose. Soaking didn't seem to make any difference in the bend-ability of
: the wood.

: softwoods would have more of a tendancy to swell. TF Jones writes that a
: nice piece of 15-20 year old oak needs soaking before steam bending.

Well you usually would prefer to steambend oak that was freshly cut
down int eh forest because it's moisture content is high. The Vikings
(and others) used to take freshly riven oak stock and submerge them
in a bog to keep them wet until they were used. But there, they were
trying to retain moisture - not add it in.

I dont' see where soaking 20 year old oak is going to make much
difference.


: A 1"x1" piece of clear oak properly steamed can be tied in a knot. Not
: something I've ever tried.

Hav eyou ever SEEN this done? With what length of wood? How tight a
knot?

I bend white oak for boat ribs all the time and they never get that
flexible.



--- Gregg

My woodworking projects:


Replicas of 15th-19th century nautical navigational instruments:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/backstaffhome.html

Restoration of my 82 year old Herreshoff S-Boat sailboat:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/SBOATrestore.htm

Steambending FAQ with photos:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/Steambend.htm



"Improvise, adapt, overcome."

Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Phone: (617) 496-1558

------------ And now a word from our sponsor ---------------------
For a secure high performance FTP using SSL/TLS encryption
upgrade to SurgeFTP
---- See http://netwinsite.com/sponsor/sponsor_surgeftp.htm ----

I think some of the folks here are forgetting that it is the heat, not
the moisture that allows the cell walls to get soft. See Greg, I have
read your pages Anyway, I think the steam helps in delivering that
heat in a even, manageable fashion. I have heard of folks bending
without steam, just heat but I have not tried..
Scotty... still with tail between legs...

Backyard Renegade wrote:

I think some of the folks here are forgetting that it is the heat, not
the moisture that allows the cell walls to get soft. See Greg, I have
read your pages Anyway, I think the steam helps in delivering that
heat in a even, manageable fashion.

You're absolutely correct on both counts.

Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...
Backyard Renegade wrote:

I think some of the folks here are forgetting that it is the heat, not
the moisture that allows the cell walls to get soft. See Greg, I have
read your pages Anyway, I think the steam helps in delivering that
heat in a even, manageable fashion.

You're absolutely correct on both counts.

Well of course I am, I'm actually pretty good when I keep on the
meds... kidding guys...