Who can bend steam wood

[fordf350camper]

I need some ash or oak bending for my truck body frame.Is there anyone near notts who can do it.The reason i would like local so i can take the old wood to be copyed.Thanks

[guz]

make your own steamer, easily done.

i did some years ago, only ramin dado
rails on crooked walls but it worked.

[fordf350camper]

Not being silly but how do you get the steam.I have seen were you make a jig to get the shape.You also wet, soak it to help.But i am not sure how to make a steamer bit.

[fordf350camper]

I have now googled and found out you can use a wall paper steamer.So if i cannot find any one local to help i will have a go.Thanks

[accord83]

My old man used to bend strakes for his boat by using a length of wide bore steam pipe with one end capped off, he half filled it with water, put a propane gas burner under it and then chucked the timber in. went for his dinner, then (using thick gloves cos it was kin hot) hauled out the strakes and clamped them up whilst soft.

[woodyone]

Its not an easy thing to do to steam wood. it is always a bit of trail and error as you have to compensate for spring back once you take the wood out of its clamps. The technique i have used in the past is a wallpaper steamer connecting to a long metal tube with your wood in. Remember to have some bits of wood underneath what your are steaming because if the wood contacts the metal while steaming it will stain it. Also you have to be Very quick in getting the wood from the steamer to the clamps (best to have an extra pair of hands) and leave it in the clamps as long as you can as this will reduce the amount of spring back at least 4 hours more the better. Good luck

Woody.

[ditchdigger]

How thick is this wood you are trying to bend?

In my luthiery projects I have bent up to 1/4" pieces of hardwood using a homemade "Bending Iron" that can be as simple as a piece of tubing in a vice with a 1000watt halogen light bulb inside. Anything thicker will require the pipe technique