Two Easy Ways For Bending The Wood With Steam
The Steam bending of the wood is a woodworking technique that is used for the curved wooden forms. The user will need a steam box, steam generator, and some of the wooden forms or molds to go for the steam bending of the wood. Go through the two easy ways mentioned below in order to bend wood:
Way 1: Steam Box
- Soak: The first step is to the dip the wood in water for at least a day before going for the steaming. This will help to make the wood very easier to bend after steaming is done. Place the wood that is to be bend in a container that should be full of water, completely submerge the wood, and soak it for overnight. The woods which has the more open grain, like oak, is the easiest to bend with steam.
- Moist Wood: The next step is to put the moist wood into a steam box. A steam box can be constructed from wood as well as from the PVC pipe. It is very important that the steam box needs to be big enough so that the steam can flow around the piece of wood easily and also should an opening just like drilled holes. The holes are important for the steam to get the airflow and do not become volatile or harmful.
- Steam Generator: Install the steam generator to the steam box with the help of a hose. For the steam generator, the user can be bought from store or can use other options like a wallpaper steamer. Then simply using a hose or tube attach the steam generator to the steam box.
- Steam: Once all the work is done then its time to go for steaming the wood for at least 1 hour for every 1 inch that is 2.5 cm of thickness. Fill out the steam generator’s tank with the water and then turn it on. However mostly for steam bending keep the wood for 1 hour for every 1 in (2.5 cm) of thickness, but all woods are different nature so that the time can vary.
- Temperature: Its very important to maintain the temperature of about 100 °C all the time. This is the temperature that the water needs to boil, so as long as there is proper ventilation in the steam box the temperature must stay close to this number all the time. To reduce pressure and temperature open the steam box door, if the temperature goes higher than this.
- Remove: Now its time to remove the steamed wood with the help of heat-resistant gloves but when the time is up. Before removing the wood turn off the steam generator and then carefully open the steam box using the best quality heat-resistant gloves. Once the steamed piece of wood is removed then start the bending process as soon as possible before it loses its pliability.
Way 2: Bending Wood After Steaming
- Plywood Form Or Bending Board: In order to shape the wood build a plywood form or bending board. In order to give the wood desired shape cut the plywood. To create a bending board secure several small numbers of curved pieces of plywood to a board, or the user can also cut large forms to clamp the steamed wood to.
- Clamp: Once the form is made then clamp down the steamed wood to the forms. Simply place the wood that is to be bent against the form, after that clamp it to the form. It is advisable to start out with the flattest area, and then secure it in place, carefully bend the wood applying gentle pressure around the form.
- Bending Board: In case of the bending board place the steamed wood in the mold. The curved pieces of plywood or MDF that are used to make a mold, carefully bend the wood in between them. Start at one end and then to the other.
- Dry: Now let the wood to dry in the form or in the mold for almost 24 hours. After the day has passed unclamp the wood or remove it from the bending board mold.