Steam Bending Wood - Box material?

[Maurice Mcmurry]

The physics of steam are fascinating from one pipe low pressure steam heat, to steam engines, to bending wood. It is becoming rather esoteric. Old steam engine guys, boiler makers, and building superintendents are fun to talk with.

[Robert LaPlaca]

I think these “steamy “ reads should always mention that only air-dried wood is going to work well for steam bending .

Maybe it was steam bending beginners luck, combined with 1/8” air dried Walnut. I needed to bend the 1/8” thick x 12” wide Air dried Walnut to a 11” radius for a tall case clock hood skin and it bent beautifully on the first try, not sure if I should have bought a lottery ticket after the occasion or that’s just an easy peasy bend..

[Warren Lake]

jay likes steam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBU8IPyUyTk

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Thickness is a huge factor. The tighter the bend the thinner the wood will need to be. Does anyone have experience with ammonia gasification?

[Mel Fulks]

The physics of steam are fascinating from one pipe low pressure steam heat, to steam engines, to bending wood. It is becoming rather esoteric. Old steam engine guys, boiler makers, and building superintendents are fun to talk with.

Yes ! But strangely what makes it so interesting is that when they talk boilerplate is it’s not all “boilerplate” !