Should I go the steam route or try to resaw thin strips, glue and bend
approach?

What do I but for a heater and a boiler to make a small steamer?

any experience with that?
thanks for the tips

"Trs80" wrote in message
Should I go the steam route or try to resaw thin strips, glue and bend
approach?

Either way will work.

What do I buy for a heater and a boiler to make a small steamer?

A piece of pipe with a diameter about 3x that of the wood, a cap with an
outlet hole on one end and a steam kettle on the other end. That's all you
really need.

Make a form that you want the rockers to emulate (plywood will be fine),
steam the wood, (one rocker at time) and form the steamed wood to the form,
clamp in place, let dry and cool down completely before doing the second
one. That's all it takes. Very cheap, relatively easy and fast.

"Trs80" wrote in message
...
Should I go the steam route or try to resaw thin strips, glue and bend
approach?

Laminating should produce more reliable results.

What do I but for a heater and a boiler to make a small steamer?

Wallpaper steamer and box structure made from WBP plywood.

Jeff
--
Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK
email : Username is amgron
ISP is clara.co.uk
www.amgron.clara.net

On Thu, 1 May 2008 22:47:32 -0700, "Trs80" wrote:

Should I go the steam route or try to resaw thin strips, glue and bend
approach?

What do I but for a heater and a boiler to make a small steamer?

any experience with that?
thanks for the tips


Resawing/gluing thin strips produces the strongest curved piece.
That's how banisters are made. I used this technique to make "ship's
knees" for the legs of a wooden settee.

Steaming wood is fairly easy. You need an uninterrupted heat source,
kettle, piping, forms, and careful planning. Some kinds of wood are
better at steam-bending than others. BBQ tongs and leather gloves
come in handy.

Either method, you will have to deal with spring-back, about 5% maybe
more.

On May 2, 12:47*am, "Trs80" wrote:
Should I go the steam route or try to resaw thin strips, glue and bend
approach?

What do I but for a heater and a boiler to make a small steamer?

any experience with that?
thanks for the tips

Hi
Resawing and gluing will make a strong joint an can be used,
If you prefer to bend I bouhgt a steam kettle from www.leevalley.com
that is made for this purpose look under steam bending at there web
site.
I made bending box from 4" poly drain pipe that I got from Lowes and
caps also bought at lowes. Drill a hole for steam kettle and sit it on
blocks,
Use gloves it get hot.

Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com

ok Thanks all. I guess I give the laminate approach a whirl.

"randyswoodshoop" wrote in message
...
On May 2, 12:47 am, "Trs80" wrote:
Should I go the steam route or try to resaw thin strips, glue and bend
approach?

What do I but for a heater and a boiler to make a small steamer?

any experience with that?
thanks for the tips

Hi
Resawing and gluing will make a strong joint an can be used,
If you prefer to bend I bouhgt a steam kettle from www.leevalley.com
that is made for this purpose look under steam bending at there web
site.
I made bending box from 4" poly drain pipe that I got from Lowes and
caps also bought at lowes. Drill a hole for steam kettle and sit it on
blocks,
Use gloves it get hot.

Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com