Bending/twisting wood (was Bending Oak)

[Dan Major]

I have a project I'd like to try. It's fairly small, the pieces are no longer that 10". I don't have the means (money) to build a steam box. The "slats" are 1/8 - 3/16 thick by 2 - 3 inches wide. Questions are:

1) What's the easiest wood to bend? 2) W/O a steam box, can I just boil the wood in a skillet? 3) For one of the projects, I need to put a 90 degree twist down the length of the slat, can this be done? 4) What's the best finish to keep the wood from "unbending"?

[Andrew Barss]

Dan Major wrote: : I have a project I'd like to try. It's fairly small, the pieces are no : longer that 10". I don't have the means (money) to build a steam box.

All you need is a length of 4" or larger PVC pipe, an end cap, and a teakettle. The : "slats" are 1/8 - 3/16 thick by 2 - 3 inches wide. Questions are: : 1) What's the easiest wood to bend?

Steamed ash is good.

: 3) For one of the projects, I need to put a 90 degree twist down the length : of the slat, can this be done?

Probably, depending on how thin the wood is, and how abrupt a twist you want.

: 4) What's the best finish to keep the wood from "unbending"?

Thew finish isn't going to do much. If you laminate a few pieces together, epoxy or urea-formaldehyde glue will stop springback.

-- Andy Barss

[George]

SNIP >

Ash is a great choice, and should be straight-grained because you rived it yourself - best option, or you cut along the annual rings of a quartered piece. Don't worry about waves in them, they'll steam straight. Thicknessing is a bandsaw/pivot pin proposition. You don't have to be fanatic and thump the side of a well-soaked black ash like the basket folks, but your chances of success are greatest if you follow the principles they use.

[Stan and Sue Deen]