How to steam bend wood, Troubleshooting

So you want to learn how to steam bend wood? Be careful what you start because it's a difficult project to finish.

How to build the steamer

This is the steamer I ended up using for the project. I highly recommend buying this one rather than going cheap on a cheap steamer. Buy once cry once.
Rockler steam generator

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[tysond]

I took notes while watching your video. I thought I’d share them for people to copy, paste and read through when necessary. Please still watch the video folks, this cheat sheet won’t have context without viewing. Thank you for making and posting!

* Vertical grain timber
* 2 hours per 1/4 inch
* Pre soak
* Steel band on back of board when bending for even compression
* 30 seconds from steamer to bend
* Kiln dried timber will need fabric softener added to steam water to absorb properly between the fibre. Air dried is better. Fresh cut green lumber is ideal.
* Straight grain timber. Knots and undulations will snap.
* Have everything ready to go for bend and work quick
* Clamp everywhere
* wait 10 mins before pulling off the form then leave in snug brace to retain shape while drying. Few days minimum

[lamardon]

I would really try to avoid knots simply because of their extreme density and hardness. But you seem to be comfortable with them.

[flybyfrankie]

Hi, thanks for the video. I'm really new to steam bending but I have been taught by a good teacher. He taught me that the best wood to bend is hardwood (in fact softwood is not great for bending). Ash and oak are the best. Ash grows fast and straight. What you're looking for is a straight grain and as few knots as possible.
Also, leaving for a couple of days in the jig in a continuously temperate room with an aluminium (or steel support as you used) on the outside should help prevent splitting.
Steam bending is such and energy efficient, eco friendly, sustainable way to work with wood i think its a shame to introduce unnecessary chemicals. Soaking overnight should dramatically affect the pliability of the wood. I hope my newly acquired knowledge helps and I look forward to seeing more of your videos!

[JP-vsys]

wow this is totally helpful thank you. and your little girl's smile made my day.

[benschmolze]

Nice work man! There may be something off with your steam production. I just had great success steam bending 5/8" thick cherry (air dried and quartersawn) and steamed those pieces for 45 minutes. They bent with very little effort - basically by hand. I used a steel strap similar to yours and attached a come-along to it, cranked around a form. I actually feel I could have gotten away with 30 minutes as I could see the end grain bubbling well before 45. I used a big turkery fryer/gas burner with a rubber hose going into a 6mil poly tube as my steam box, zip tied at each end. The uphill side I left a bit loose for steam to escape. I hope to make a video about it someday. Thanks for the video. I like your dedication and trial and error process.

[richardcole]

Nice video and some great tips. For thin strips up to about 5 mm I use a hot air gun. It works really well and is so much easier than all this steam malarky. Get it at the right temperature whilst applying a little pressure and you can feel the wood sigh and give up, that's when the lignin is soft enough to let the fibres realign. Clamp one end like you did then play the heat slowly along the strip bending as it gives up.

[slvice]

This was THE MOST INFORMATIVE video on the subject of steam bending lumber! Thanks so much for posting this, and sharing your experiences with us all. I'm pretty sure you just saved me a ton of $$$ in broken lumber.

[bobbyhempel]

I've been making walking sticks lately and want to start putting shepherds hooks on some and straightening others so I'm trying to get ready for streaming.

[JoelSapp]

I’ve heard ammonia in the steam water works to get into the wood faster. Additionally- not sure if you did it but to screw a block to the other end of your metal strap or clamp the wood to the strap before you bend it to keep it in compression as well.

[robingibson]

thank you for this video, it was super helpful! and thanks for carrying our mail!

[carlosnavarro]

Thank you for the information. Very helpful

[tauIrrydah]

I'm about to try a bend with green wood for a piece, hooboy this is gonna be a time

[theambient]

Great video. Answers so many questions for a newbie. Thank you!

[senyoh]

Very informative, but one thing though instead of soaking and steaming, can we boil them straight up.

[buyisilengubane]

Thanks for the video.

If u bend shutterply, it does split on glue joints?

[blackhorse]

I had purchased the Rockler steam box and plans some years ago. Built it and it was never a success. Leaked and bowed the white pine. Today watching your video I see that you have like a stove pipe added which apparently making a big difference. I would like to know what other materials you used surrounding the pipe. Great informative video, thank you for sharing.

[WashtubTimeMachine]

Freaking awesome video, thanks for that!

[jimprier]

Steam bending hardwoods is 10X easier than softwoods. Clear, straight-grained White Oak, Black Locust, maple, walnut, ash, osage orange all bend really well. Soak first, use a bending strap (aluminum or galvanized, steel will discolor the wood). 1 hour per inch of thickness, more will dry out the wood.

[larsbitsch-larsen]

One secret is as you do, make sure that the wood is only compressed, that the bending all happens as a compression on the inside. Secondly steam under pressure 2 atm gives you 1 hour steaming per inch thickness. Green wood is half the time. Thank you.

[jumbox]

That was good! I am doing a project that will put my skills to the test, you have good ideas. I am going to be doing the glue up as well during this process, would the fabrick softener affect the glue?