Great way to steam bend wood

[daveesl77]

While coming up with designs for how the outside of the trailer will look I've been pretty set on doing a steam bend on the outer rails. It has been a few decades since I bent wood, but I always figure the methods are the same. Build a steam pipe, heat water, wait, try not to burn yourself too bad. Well, here is a fantastic method of steam bending wood while maintaining the shape since it doesn't cool in a transfer process. Leave it to an old wood boat builder to come up with this. You can make the plastic "bag" by either using 6mil poly and melting it to form a bag or someone suggested possibly using those seal a meal bag rolls. Don't know how long they are or the cost.

Anyway, check this out, it is brilliant!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--iPQIwSEJM

dave

[lrrowe]

Very clever.

[Pmullen503]

Here's a source for the tubing. http://www.uline.com/BL_2107/4-Mil-Poly-Tubing

[ctstaas]

Hi All, That is a great idea and so simple. I will use it on my next steam bent project. The problem I have with steam bent wood is it will unbend. Another idea for bent wood I have used is to cut 1/8" strips and laminate many together in the correct shape and then sand to the finished shape. As with any process the solutions haven't been discovered yet and overcome with imagination.
Enjoy, Chris