Walnut for Steam Bending

Status
Not open for further replies.

Cuprousworks

Mike
User
I'm looking for wood that can be steam bent - the Lee Valley guide suggests domestic hardwoods air dried to around 20%. Any ideas where I can find air dried lumber in the triangle area?

Mike
Chapel Hill
 

Endless Pursuit

New User
Jeff
Most woods bend easily after thorough steaming. Ash, walnut, willow, beech, oaks, etc. Straight, clear grain is the key. Just don't try bending northern cherry - very difficult.

Several good books out there.

Make a compression strap and build stout jigs. It's actually easy once you get set up and adhere to the basics.

Steam bending green wood is a LOT of fun. Think wooden pretzels.
 

Roy G

Roy
Senior User
Mike, how big are the pieces you plan on bending? Do they have to be solid wood, or can you cut some strips and laminate them after you bend them? Walnut bends well in thinner pieces and when you glue the pieces up, the glue lines disappear. I bent some walnut by pouring boiling water over the pieces and clamping them in a form. Worked great.

Roy G
 

Hmerkle

Board of Directors, Development Director
Hank
Staff member
Corporate Member
Mike,
You might check with Scott Smith (http://quartersawnoak.com/) sometimes he has some walnut - while it is Kiln dried, the way he does it (I believe) will allow you to bend it - talk to him - he WILL know!
 

Phil S

Phil Soper
Staff member
Corporate Member
While there are many suppliers in the area, Jack Murdock http://www.ncsawmill.com provides air -dried and that is best for bending. Once the wood fibers have been heated up as during kiln drying, they are harder to bend - they take a set during the kiln drying. As stated the use of a compression strap helps greatly, warm wood fibers compress much better than stretch and the compression strap keeps all the fibers in compression.
 

Hmerkle

Board of Directors, Development Director
Hank
Staff member
Corporate Member
While there are many suppliers in the area, Jack Murdock http://www.ncsawmill.com provides air -dried and that is best for bending. Once the wood fibers have been heated up as during kiln drying, they are harder to bend - they take a set during the kiln drying. As stated the use of a compression strap helps greatly, warm wood fibers compress much better than stretch and the compression strap keeps all the fibers in compression.
Uh, and Mike - he should know (Phil that is) because guess what - he has done a hundred times and even in front of an audience!
 

CrealBilly

New User
Jeff
Uh, and Mike - he should know (Phil that is) because guess what - he has done a hundred times and even in front of an audience!
Jedi mind trick he uses, does he? with this one, strong the force is.

Maybe the Fountain of Youth isn't a fountain at all. Maybe it's a way of looking at things. A way of thinking.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Premier Sponsor

Our Sponsors

LATEST FOR SALE LISTINGS

Top