After a mornings outing, I found that new Coleman stoves were going for around $70 which was a price I was not prepared to pay for this kind of an experiment. I snooped around a few garage sales on Saturday morning a found one only a few blocks from home. The stove looked in very good condition, hardly used I thought. "does it work?" I asked, the answer was affirmative, "how much?" I queried, the answer was ... a whopping four dollars. At that price I didn't have the heart to dicker on the price.

Finding a NEW gas can turned out to be a bit more problematic. I can't imagine how many places I visited, from hardware stores to department stores only to find stacks and stacks of gas cans, all plastic. I decided and alternative needed to be made so began by snooping around one of my local used-goods stores. I discovered an old pressure cooker for five dollars and decided it would be the substitute for the gas can.

After some rummaging around at the hardware store and the autoparts store I managed to come away with the bits and pieces of plumbing fixtures and radiator hose that would connect the steam box to the steam source.
I cut a hole in the top of the pressure cooker and fastened the pipe to the lid with a couple of large nuts. The pipe was sealed with automotive gasket sealer that comes in a tube. A Tee was installed in the cedar steam box and connected with radiator hose.
On the big day, everything connected together fine and with some minor adjustments on the sawhorses everything fit fine. I drilled a small hole in the cedar steam box, just large enough to accept the Latte' Thermometer so I could check the steam temperature.
After about 20 minutes the steam started pouring into the box, around the wood and out through the small pressure hole in the end of the steam box. After waiting 30 minutes for the wood to heat it was removed from the steam box and immediately into the jig for bending.

I discovered that it is important to bend the wood as quickly as possible as it cools of rapidly and within minutes is difficult if not impossible to bend and breakage of the wood becomes a very real risk (I know because I broke two pieces).
It's a fun project, fairly easy to do, but it does take some practice in order achieve consistent success.

** NEW ** Click here to order the book " Complete Manual of Bending Wood" ... 

Copyright Colin Knecht
woodworkweb

Comments (8)

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written by mark wheeler, January 01, 1970

hi i need a steam box as im doing repaires to my boat any help would be great thanks

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written by Colin, January 01, 1970

Depending on what you are bending, you may not need a steam box. Wood bends more from heat than water. The water is used to help lessen the possibility of the wood that is being bent, from actually breaking. If the wood is wet (i.e. soaked overnight or more) you may even be able to bend it using something like a household iron.
Steam bending is not complex, but knowing the principals of why and how it works can help reduce the amount ancillary tools you may need.

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Ted
written by Glen, April 24, 2011

Colin, although you may be trying to help, suggesting an iron as a suitable tool to bend wooden replacement parts for a boat I think is like trying to force a pound of butter up a tigers anus with a hot cork screw. Difficult in excuting, fraught with issues and the wrong tool for the job entirely. After making windsor chairs for the past 30 years I can tell you that steam and steam boxes are by far the most suitable tool/s for bending and type, species and thickness of lumber, be it a new knee for a boat or a slender crest rail for a chair. Steam bending is indeed complex, and it takes more than a casual approach to perfect. Experimentation is the key and learning from your mistakes is paramount, but starting with informed opinions, practical information and tried methods makes for a more successful outcome. Ted the Bodger.

Colin's Response ...
Ted (or Glen ??) Thanks for your very amusing response, well done. I must say I have never made a Windsor Chair but I have build enough boats to know that when you are trying to ease a carefully cut sheet of marine plywood over hull of a boat an ordinary household iron (or 2) with a bit of moisture on the wood works very nicely. A steam box for this application just doesn't work.
Thanks again Ted (or Glen ??) ... would love to hear about your chairs.

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Interest in steam bending
written by Issy, June 07, 2011

Hi Colin,
I enjoyed reading your blog about your exploration of the techniques surrounding steam bending. I thought you may be interested in a steam bending course I am coordinating in July in which you'll be able to develop the skills you've already acquired. Please get in touch if you'd like any more info, thanks!

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written by Reid Stuart , July 04, 2011

Please let me know more about the course that you will be offering. I am interested in bending handles on Diamond Willow Canes.
Thank you, Reid

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Steam-bending 2011 (course)
written by Alison Ireland, July 05, 2011

Hi Reid,
Thanks for your interest. I am another organiser of the course Issy mentioned. You would definitely learn how to do the bending you are interested in on the course - it also includes a lot of more advanced techniques too, and whether you want to attend probably depends on your interest in these. Have a look at www.steambentwood.com to see the course content and to gauge your interest - let me know if you would like to book a place!
All the best,
Alison

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written by William Brayden, November 07, 2011

I need to bend two wooden runners for fixing to hull of rowing boat. These runners are dimensioned as follows:-4cm sq. X 2.3 Metres long. material, Teak.
I have clamped the ends together with a block in the middle forcing the wood to take on a bowed shape. On releasing the clamps the timber returns to it's straight shape. I believe that I should do this operation in a steam chamber for the wood to take on a permanent set. Who in Dublin can undertake this task?

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written by Colin, November 07, 2011

Hi William, sorry, I have no clue who could help you bend this wood in Dublin, but what I can suggest is to try to get in touch with some boat building woodworkers. The Internet should help with this. Finding a steam box 3 meters long will be a challenge. You haven't mentioned how much bend you need to put in these runners, or what their purpose is, but another alternative might be to laminate. Cut them into thinner, easily bent strips fix them with the bend you need then glue them in that position.
Sorry I can't be of more help ...
Colin

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