Replies

1. 
   FrankB89 | Dec 01, 2002 11:11pm | #1

   I've done quite a bit of boatbuilding over the years and building a steambox is pretty simple.  There's a lot of info in boatbuilding books....local library is a good source.

   Maple bends pretty well.  About 10 minutes per inch of thickness once the steam starts heading up. 

   Wear gloves.  don't set it down on metal after it's steamed or you'll get stains.

   Build a jig in the shape you want but overbend your curves a bit, because the wood will retain some memory.

   Have fun!!!

   Jules Quaver for President   2004

1. 
   Haroun | Dec 02, 2002 01:18am | #2

   Notchman- Thanks for your response.

   Can I use galvanized plumbers band iron as a bending strap without staining?

   JJS

1. 
   FrankB89 | Dec 02, 2002 01:35am | #3

   I never tried galvanized strap, but it might work.  I usually just use a thin strip of wood as a backer for the clamping.  Now that I think about it, I did use some painted strapping with no problems.

   I'm in the middle of company....I'll email you some more details later about steam boxes, boilers and such...all low tech, cheap and easy.Jules Quaver for President   2004

1. 
   fredsmart48 | Dec 02, 2002 02:29am | #4

   wangner makes a steamer for wallpaper remover.  One of the big boxes had them.  There is also a steam cleaner they were pushing on infomercial.  but one of the Rent a tool place should have a good sized one.

2. 
   pm22 | Dec 02, 2002 04:08am | #5

   Haroun,

   I look at the title of yer post and wonder just how hard it would be to bend steam? Wouldn't a curved piece of pipe or hose do?

   But no. You want to bend maple and you want a steam generator. This is where it gets fun. You don't need pressure so anything which can contain boiling water will do. This is why keeping a good supply of junk around is so important. Maybe an old cast iron bathtub on top of a bar-be-que full of "scrap" wood with a drywall lid will do. Just keep your BTUs and calories co=ordinated.

   -Peter

   Blodgett for President in '03

1. 
   jhausch | Dec 02, 2002 04:15am | #6

   I've seen the base/burner for a turkey fryer used to heat a new metal gas can from which a radiator hose fed the steam box.  I have seen steam boxes made from large diameter PVC and wood.Steelkilt Lives!

3. 
   bake | Dec 02, 2002 04:19am | #7

   Finewoodworking has done some articles on this subject, if memory serves me right they used a 6" piece of pvc pipe with holes in it as the oven and heated water in a new metal gas can using a large plumbers propane torch.

   Maybe try the knots forum.

   bake

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/1/2002 8:20:00 PM ET by bake

1. 
   booch | Dec 04, 2002 06:25pm | #19

   This is actually for Haroun (it appears we can't change the reply TO candidate anymore)

   Early Fine woodworking somewhere in issues 1-8 has a picture on the cover of a native american making a box with steam bending. It hooked me to the magazine that is why I remember.

   Yes PVC is a bad Idea. that is how one bends PVC for custom electrical installations. Greenlee sells a frighteningly expensive tool for the job. I'd go with the plywood box (CDX) and a teapot on the stove or similar device for a steam box.

   If you only have one project why not try bentwood laminiation? cut the board into strips in 1/8" thick or so. Then get a 4" cheapie paint roller for glue application and cut a form out of OSB laminated to the thickness you want. (you need to cut both sides of the form for it to work properly and slightly overcompensate for the curve you want) Lube the wood (after a dry run of course) with glue, slap it in the form and clamp the bejeebers out of it. let it set for a day and take it out. Cut it to finished size on the table saw and smile at your work.

   PS if you are forming something out of 2d into a 3d you can use bicycle innertubes to help with your clamping.

1. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 04, 2002 07:34pm | #20

   >> it appears we can't change the reply TO candidate anymore

   I do it all the time. You just have to be in the Advanced View. There's a link near the bottom of the frame you're reading this in to change to Advanced View. Then hit Reply and when the compose screen comes up, there's a pull down menu to select To: Then when you're done, go back to Basic.

   Edited 12/4/2002 12:01:00 PM ET by Uncle Dunc

2. 
   Haroun | Dec 04, 2002 11:52pm | #21

   OK- To all and sundry, many thanks. I am going with steambending because it seems like trouble I want to deal with. The idea of a lamination crossed my mind but I HATE dealing with glue squeezeout on a regular glueup, I can't imagine the annoyance that the lamination would cause me. Plus this is an excuse to: 1) Buy more tools 2) Have a steambox. There is stuff I've wanted to bend for myself but was unwilling to build the system for myself.

   I finally remembered that Lee Valley Tools has a steam set up, so I'm buying a kettle from them. Thanks all!

4. 
   gordsco | Dec 02, 2002 04:56am | #8

   A chunk of rad hose onto an electric kettle (round spout) fed into a length of PVC works fine.

   Gordsco

1. 
   FrankB89 | Dec 02, 2002 05:18am | #9

   I tried making a steam box out of PVC pipe once;  It turned into a soft, flexible noodle.  Making a wooden box out of scrap lumber is cheaper.  Make a door for the end that is a slip fit.  Seal it with rags.

   As someone mentioned, you don't nee pressure and some billowing leakage is good.Jules Quaver for President   2004

1. 
   gordsco | Dec 03, 2002 08:03am | #10

   You're right of course about the PVC. The stuff I was using was a length of 8" sewer pipe, I should have taken the time to provide more detail.

   Gordsco

1. 
   FrankB89 | Dec 03, 2002 09:24am | #11

   Actually, when I built my PVC steambox, I thought it was the ticket because I drilled for dowels for little racks, had a drain valve and an inlet valve and a couple of #### to regulate steam flow.

   So I set the thing up, built a fire under my boiler (an old 10 gallon steel water tank) and went about getting my wood ready for a trial run.  The PVC was layed across some shelf brackets on about 2' centers.  I came out to see if things were ready to go and there was my new steambox, looking like a boa constricter draped over the brackets.

   I've actually kept the thing around to remind myself to stay low tech.Jules Quaver for President   2004

5. 
   jocobe | Dec 03, 2002 06:07pm | #12

   What size maple?

1. 
   Adrian | Dec 03, 2002 09:14pm | #13

   It's not the steam (moisture part) that makes the wood pliable; it's the heat. The moisture keeps the wood from drying too much. If you want to get into it pretty deeply, the Forest Products Laboratory has an online copy of the 'Wood Handbook; Wood As an Engineering material" on their website.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.SWAY too conservative to be merely right wing

2. 
   Haroun | Dec 04, 2002 01:51am | #14

   The maple will be about 7/8ths thick, and about 1 1/4 wide.

1. 
   Snort | Dec 04, 2002 02:28am | #15

   Is the maple profiled? Square edged is easy, if it's profiled on both face edges it's easy, if it's only profiled on one edge, like shoe mould, the stuff is going to want to twist. Did I miss what you were doing with this wood? If it's going to fastened while it's still supple, that's a different story than forming it first and letting it set up.

   I've got a 6" PVC schedual 40 steam box that I've been using for 15 years, got dowels and end caps and relief plug. I use an electric hot plate w/ tea kettle, but I like that electric kettle idea.

   I've also bent a bunch of trim by making a trough out of stacked up 2 bys and lining with plastic sheeting, then soaking the wood overnight. That's for paint grade only.

   You need to be pretty choosy with maple, in my experience anyway, find the straightest grain you can, and flat grained stuff seems to like to blow out as it dries...

   Good luck, BB It's okay, I can fix it!

1. 
   jimblodgett | Dec 04, 2002 09:27am | #16

   Tried to find some photos of my steam pot but only found these of my box...let's see if I can post them now...

   whew, that was WAY too big, let me try again...nope, too danged big...got to figure out how to shrink these rascals...I'll be back.

   Brinkmann for president in '04

   Edited 12/4/2002 1:37:17 AM ET by jim blodgett

   
1. 
   KenHill3 | Dec 04, 2002 09:36am | #17

   Jim- I do beleive that's the first pic I've ever seen you post. Congratulations!

   Ken Hill

2. 
   jimblodgett | Dec 04, 2002 10:08am | #18

   Hi Ken.  Tried three times, now the missus is hollering from the bed that it's too danged late for me to be cursing this computer.  What a flippin' disaster.  Have to try again tomorrow.

   Brinkmann for president in '04