Does anyone have any experience with steam bending redwood?? I have been
asked to make an arch 9" wide with about a 3' radius, 3/4" thick. The wood
has not been kiln dried so that will help. It has been air dried. Steaming
might be easier than a bent lamination but I have no experience with
redwood. Thanks, Mark
"Mark Haveman" wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with steam bending redwood??
I don't.
>I have been
> asked to make an arch 9" wide with about a 3' radius, 3/4" thick.
> The wood
> has not been kiln dried so that will help. It has been air dried.
> Steaming
> might be easier than a bent lamination but I have no experience with
> redwood.
Personally since you have a 3' radius and only 3/4" thickness is
required, I'd probably laminate three (3), 1/4" thick pieces in one
pass using laminating epoxy with a slow hardner to get 25-30 minutes
of open time.
If you try to steam it, you will be under the gun the whole time.
Epoxy gives you some breathing room.
Have fun.
Lew
On Jul 14, 6:25=A0pm, "Mark Haveman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with steam bending redwood?? I have been
> asked to make an arch 9" wide with about a 3' radius, 3/4" thick. The woo=
d
> has not been kiln dried so that will help. It has been air dried. Steamin=
g
> might be easier than a bent lamination but I have no experience with
> redwood. Thanks, Mark
The only redwood I steam bent was also laminated from 3/16" pieces.
Belt and suspenders time as I was under the gun and the end units had
some pretty tight radii. The stuff bent fine and with a 3' radius you
shouldn't have any problem.
R
On Jul 14, 7:10=A0pm, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:25:48 -0700, "Mark Haveman" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Does anyone have any experience with steam bending redwood?? I have been
> >asked to make an arch 9" wide with about a 3' radius, 3/4" thick. The wo=
od
> >has not been kiln dried so that will help. It has been air dried. Steami=
ng
> >might be easier than a bent lamination but I have no experience with
> >redwood. Thanks, Mark
>
> Redwood is notorious for splintering. =A0You may need to use both
> lamination and steam. =A0Expect 3-4% springback.
Or constrain the wood on both sides to eliminate the splintering.
http://www.shoal.net.au/~woodcraft1/articles/timberbending.html
R
On Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:25:48 -0700, "Mark Haveman" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Does anyone have any experience with steam bending redwood?? I have been
>asked to make an arch 9" wide with about a 3' radius, 3/4" thick. The wood
>has not been kiln dried so that will help. It has been air dried. Steaming
>might be easier than a bent lamination but I have no experience with
>redwood. Thanks, Mark
>
Redwood is notorious for splintering. You may need to use both
lamination and steam. Expect 3-4% springback.