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STEAM BENDING OF WOOD - MORE DETAIL

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TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL STEAM CHEST FOR STEAM BENDING
 
The construction of a typical steam chest for a professional, is shown below. Cut a piece of plastic tube (e.g. drain pipe). Clad the outside with wood battens, held in position with wire. Alternatively, use insulating foam or a hot water tank jacket, to wrap round the steam tube.
The end stops should be made from exterior grade plywood.
Steam wood inside the tube, for one hour, per 25mm of thickness.
 
The steam chest is set at a slight angle, allowing condensing steam to drain away.
 
 
 
 
SIMPLE ‘DIY’ STEAM CHEST FOR STEAM BENDING
 
This steam chest is a simple design, made from exterior graded plywood, finished with exterior, heat resistant, varnish. The sides are pinned / screwed and glued together.
The steam generator feeds the chamber, via a tube through the stop end.
Tips: Try a wallpaper steamer to provide the necessary steam.
Steam the wood for one hour, per 25mm of thickness.
 
The steam chest is set at a slight angle, allowing condensing steam to drain away.
 
 
 
 
USING A STRAP AND FORMER - STEAM BENDING OF WOOD
 
A mild steel strap, used to ‘force’ the wood round a former, is one of the most efficient ways of ‘bending’ steamed wood. The steel strap is manufactured from 1.5 mm, flexible, mild steel or plated mild steel. It must be the same width (or greater), than the wood being formed. If the width is less, the forming may not be accurate. Some cabinet makers protect the wood with a strip of paper, placed between the steel strap and the wood. G-cramps are used to hold the steel strap and ‘bent wood’ in place.
 
After steaming and forming, the wood is cramped for at least 24 hours. Releasing the cramps too early, may result in the wood springing back, to its previous state.
The former is usually manufactured from thick plywood or natural wood, screwed and glued to a base.
 
 
THE PROCEDURE - USING A STRAP - STEAM BENDING OF WOOD
 
Clamp the steel strap and steamed wood, on one side of the former. Use the other ‘handle’ to pull the strap and steamed wood, round the former.
It may take two people to carry out his procedure.
 
 
A second g-cramp is used to secure the strap in position. A third cramp can be secured at the top of the former. It is important to leave the cramps for 24 hours. For thicker pieces of wood, the drying time is increased and may even take a week.
 
 
 
 
An alternative, is for the wood and strap, to be clamped to the top part of the former (see below). Both handles are pulled round simultaneously, forcing the wood to bend to the shape of the former.
Two more cramps are used to secure the ‘bent wood’ in place.
 
 
 
 
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