OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

269161 Matthew Groves <grovesthegrey@g...> 2019‑09‑07 Simple steam-bending ideas
Hey gang,

I’m in charge of the next “fun day” for our 12 person staff team.

Last time I was at the helm, we mixed and stuffed bratwurst. Yummy!

This time I’m trying to do something similarly “hands based”.

I don’t really want to bring everyone to the forge.

I think spoon carving would not give that spark of “I did it!” that I’m looking
for from the participants.


So


I’d like to do a little steam bending instead.

Other than “cane” or “back scratcher”, what are some relatively easy projects? I
will have one or two shave horses available, and tools to use.

Any ideas?


Matthew Groves
Springfield, MO
269162 Erik Levin 2019‑09‑07 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Matthew asked:
> Other than “cane” or “back scratcher”, what are some relatively 
> easy projects? I will have one or two shave horses available, and tools to
use.


Keeping in mind that my stem bending experience has not been in the easy
category, nor in the done right the first (or second, or often third or fourth)
time category, so my easy-omiter may not match other peoples...

Winter is coming: sled runners? (did this in high school wood shop)


Legs for a small side table (round top, three arched legs fit to meet at the
center of the arch and spread at the top.... THis was a not-uncommon style when
I was but a youth. Never made one).

Artsy bending, like trivets  (a ring, or better yet, a spiral. Made a bunch of
these a few years ago for practice when I was bending cove to trim out stairs in
my house. The bottom step has a full curtail (??? the end that sticks out to the
side and is a half circle on a bottom step) and I couldn't find the right size
stair cove preform).


Artsy bending like a helical coil or similar.

Coat hooks (wall mount would be pretty straightforward, and doing a coat-and-hat
can be done several ways that I have seen, in one or two parts)


This is all off the top of my head.


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269163 Kirk Eppler 2019‑09‑07 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Shaker boxes!

Maker 2 or 3 sizes available, and do the pre-work in some of the wood
projects?  Or maybe trays to cut the work in half....




On Sat, Sep 7, 2019, 11:33 AM Matthew Groves 
wrote:
269164 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2019‑09‑07 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
You could build a boat and steam the planks - maybe a bit ambitious.  Or maybe a
guitar - also ambitious

Ed Minch
269165 Matthew Groves <grovesthegrey@g...> 2019‑09‑07 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Y’all are hilarious!

Twelve people and three hours.

I have a high priority of everyone leaving with a completed something. 

This rules out:
Boats
Guitars
Hall trees
And probably shaker boxes

Keep me flowing. I appreciate it!

Matthew Groves
Springfield, MO
269166 Erik Levin 2019‑09‑08 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Coat hooks don't necessarily connote hall trees. A simple J shape is the basic
form, with two holes for screws to attach to the wall. More interesting is a
pair of J shapes, one longer, the other shorter, with matching holes to make a
coat-and-hat. Then one gets fancy,  with a single piece J shape with a kick out
at the top, for a coat and hat. All require a form board, but are simple.

Trivets can be as simple as a ring of 1/8 to 1/4 thick by 1/2 to 1" wide bent
into a ring and tacked, glued, or wired where the ends cross. 6" to 8" diameter
serve a number of purposes (I have a a ring about 7" fia, 1/2 high for 1/4 by
1/2" oak on my counter by the stove. It is sized for my favourite cast iron
skillet) More work is a spiral form. Wind the wood around a mandrel several
times and strap it in place. When released, the relieved tension will give a
nice spiral. You need to experiment to find the core for the mandrel and the
appropriate number of turns to get the desired finish size.




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269167 Bill Ghio 2019‑09‑08 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Or maybe trays to cut the work in half....
> 

Trays was my thot. SWMBO asked for one a few years ago and is quite pleased with
it. I used Tiger Maple for the band and Cherry for the tray part.  The contrast
is wonderful. Be careful with the size tho, the Cherry moves like mad and ours
creates summer time gaps. If you use ply for the tray you have a lot more
flexibility on size.

Or, how about a set of coasters?

Bill
269168 Gmail <shadowd@g...> 2019‑09‑08 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Perhaps coat hangers?  

Wood Bent to a mustache shape, ends held together with a dowel across and screws
through the end. (Wedged tenons for the adventuresome)
Hooks being pre-bent from an appropriate gauge of wire...or perhaps being bent
while waiting on the steam bent items to cure ?
269176 Michael Suwczinsky <nicknaylo@g...> 2019‑09‑10 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Love the j hook idea! You’ll need forms and clamps galore. I’d keep a pot
of boiling water on hand in case the steam doesn’t do the trick. Certainly
worth a run through or two to work out the bugs.

Michael

> 

-- 
Michael
269177 Greg Isola <gregorywisola@g...> 2019‑09‑10 Re: Simple steam-bending ideas
Building on this line of thought... think about bending lots of narrow
strips into J shapes, and then gluing 3-4 together to get a robust,
finished hook. Thin strips are pretty easy (and fast) to bend. You can dip
them in hot water as you go, if need be, and you can tape/clamp them over a
big piece of PVC pipe to dry. Then glue a few together (use tape instead of
clamps for this), and go to lunch. Come back in an hour or so, and then
spokeshave or whittle them to final shape (softening the edges, etc.).
Final step is drilling the hang holes and taking the obligatory group
photo!

Just a few quick thoughts, based on some fun and relatively successful
Shaker box making adventures and bending a guitar side or three.

Greg Isola
Alameda, CA

On Mon, Sep 9, 2019 at 6:06 PM Michael Suwczinsky 
wrote:

Recent Bios FAQ