very Large Shaker boxes???

Y'think anything with that thickness/radius ratio needs steaming?

How about just crank up your hot tub.

I built a bunch of #4s for christmas presents. Fun projects.

it is my understanding that Shakers didn't use heated water, just soaked them in room temp water.

BRuce

Christ> Hi any shaker box makers here... I was looking at this site

Now theres an idea!!! Of course if it is walnut that we use might darken the water a little! LOL.

Well the principles are the same are they not? The ratio of width and length and thickness are the same whether it is a #0 or a number 20 box? I am not stating I am asking? These are not rocket science ratios by any means but basically they should apply across the board I would think. So yes I think you would need to boil or steam the wood!

The guiding principle here is that wood of thinner section will bend around a tighter _radius_ curve without help. The larger box has a larger radius, therefore, no help should be needed if you're still talking 3/16 stock.

I've seen this guy, I think, or perhaps someone else with a similar beard, work, and he uses the luthier's trick of soaking and bending around a hot piece of pipe, though, once again, if you take a thinner piece of wood, it'll bend much tighter without breaking.