Build a steam bending box zero the light disappears, you have found the hole. Boz wires 4 inches longer than the diameter of the box. We are delighted to share some of the best AW content here on the PW website. DeneB4 Question 3 years ago on Introduction. I haven't actually tried this but it seemed like a good way to only apply the steam to the area of the bend. Set your pot up on the heater that you will be using. The wood is worked back and forth across the saturated cloth covered iron while applying pressure to bend it around the iron.

To accommodate the Lee Valley kettle, I propped one end of the box on a block 9 in. Then I attached the legs. Add two-piece doors to the ends. One piece is a cap; the other is a plug. I used large brass hinges to hang the doors. Add screen door hooks to keep the doors shut as you steam away. The kettle must be refilled now and then during the steaming process; two guide blocks help position the pipe when you re-insert it in the hole. Constructing the box is very easy. Support dowels allow steam to circulate around the wood.

Note: Product availability and costs Build A Steam Box For Bending Wood 7d are subject to change since original publication date. Lee Valley , leevalley. This story originally appeared in American Woodworker July , issue Purchase this back issue. Click on any of the images to view a larger version. Product Recommendations Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.

By American Woodworker Editors. Heat has to travel from the surface of the wood to the interior. Keep in mind that some woods bend better than others. White oak, red oak, ash and poplar all bend well. Straight grain is important as well.

If you have rain running out of the face of the board, your wood will most likely break where the grain runs out.

It's really easy to leave on the heat when you're done bending wood. Eventually, the water all evaporates, the pot becomes hot and the plywood starts smoking. Good way to start a fire. The placement of the wire could be made easier by drilling of the holes and placing the wire As you assemble the steambox rather than after screwing the box together. Question 2 years ago. I have parts and pieces at my disposal that would allow me to make a steam tube that would SAFELY hold psi of pressure in the tube.

That's my theory anyway. I was wondering if you know of anyone who has tried this approach? Am I wasting time? The wood I want to bend is approximately 1" thick. Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Answer 2 years Build A Steam Box For Bending Wood Key ago. Waste of time. The most important factor is moisture content of the wood - the higher the moisture content the lower temp is required to loosen the bond between the lingin and fibers allowing the wood to be bent.

Putting a higher flow of steam or more constant, uniform coverage into the box might be a cheaper way of speeding it up. But speeding it up too much might not turn out well - just like turning the oven up to cook food quicker.

Question 3 years ago on Introduction. Could a steam box be used to straighten a warped guitar neck? I would think that a box could be constructed that would contain only the neck portion that needs to be straightened, and which allows the guitar body and the head where the tuning pegs are to extend out opposite ends of the box.

Would there be an easier way? Also, it might be tricky to get it to cool to retain a true and straight shape. A straight jig would be important I'm sure. Anything else? Or is the whole idea just a waste of time, trying to fix something that is already toast? Thanks, pquin3. Reply 3 years ago. I saw a technique for bending the sides of the body of a musical instrument using a wet rag around a large soldering iron.

The wood is worked back and forth across the saturated cloth covered iron while applying pressure to bend it around the iron. I haven't actually tried this but it seemed like a good way to only apply the steam to the area of the bend. Reply 10 years ago on Introduction. The question I would ask would be, what caused the neck to warp in the first place?

If it started out straight, then warped, then is steamed back into position, what will stop it from warping again? Your scheme for straightening the neck via steam and then locking it into a straight shape might work. And if it does, you would be the world expert and could write an instructable about it. On the other Build A Steam Box For Bending Wood 01 hand, dried wood does not steam bend as well as wet wood or green wood, I assume guitar necks are made from well seasoned wood. Might be easier just to put a new neck on the guitar.

Reply 9 years ago on Introduction. Reply 5 years ago on Introduction. I have to replace my oil fired steam furnace this fall. I was thinking of setting up a valve system allowing me to use it to steam wood all year round. Wouldn't be to hard to do. Auto water feed and such. Might b too much steam. Any thoughts? Temperature of the steam depends on what sort of pressure your heating system is at. Primitive steam source of the type I've illustrated operates at atmospheric pressure and the steam is somewhere around degrees, hot enough to bend wood but not so hot that you're in danger of getting hurt.

As long as you have a way of keeping your heat chamber at atmospheric pressure, you should be alright. Thanks for the reply, I'm very new here. Sleeping on this concept last night I thought I might be producing to much steam. Or waisting oil. Any suggestions for a type of hose to run from the back of my house to the shop, about 40'? Distance between steam source and steam box is your enemy.

Unless very elaborately insulated you might end up with hot water at the end of the Build A Steam Box For Bending Wood Water line, or at least a significant amount of condensate. Reply 4 years ago. It would need to be steam-pipe just like the stuff that carries steam to the radiators for instance.

Iron pipe? And, if it needs to span forty feet, think of several inches of insulation unless you want to fill your steam box with hot water. Is mahogany good for bending? I am constructing an arched arbor for our wedding and am thinking of using a steam box.

My other thought, to have less waste, was to have the wood for the arch mimic puzzle pieces.

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