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Bending wood

I have had good luck using the microwave.
Some times use a Quick-Grip type clamp across a bowl to pull the sides in
A 1/16" bowl can take a lot of heat.

Jerry
 
Played a bit with micro bending back when.

1) Bag the piece in plastic to get a good steam effect without lighting it off. Don't have any part significantly thicker than the rest.

2) Plan ahead. Test your gloves proof against steam early.

3) When you clamp over a form, remember the whole thing will contract a bit as it dries, so make it a split form with a removable wedge.

4) Be prepared for a disappointingly muddied surface look. Steaming can stain below sanding depth, and some pieces look downright unattractive with waterspots coming from the interior.

Number one does not apply to boiling.
 
Think basic bending rules apply here in that to release the "set" of the lignin, you need to take it above 200° all the way through. For a 1" thick board in a low/no pressure steam rig, that translates to about a hour's cook. Boiling bowls is about the same, however, if you take them out and let'em air cool, they're likely to crack. I'd suggest that if you boil, do so such that you can take them out, apply your bending rig, and the return the whole thing to the water and allow them to cool off slowly.

Do not boil in oil, even if you have both the fire dept. and the EMS standing by, and even with water, make sure that your pot is at least 25% bigger that your bowl. Last thing you want is a bowl expanding and sticking to the pot's walls. One turner I know spent some very serious time in a burn ward that way after the whole rig exploded boiling water.
 
I haven't tried bending wood yet but I do want to have a go at making some handles for jugs or vases. Which are the best woods to bend?

Many thanks

Paul Loseby in UK

Paul,

Suggest you Google "Compwood" and contact. It comes in several flavors and can be bent and the fixed to shapes rather easily, when it dries, it becomes rigid. Might be just the thing you want for wood jug and cup handles.

Here's just one link http://www.flutedbeams.com/compwood.html

MM
 
I haven't tried bending wood yet but I do want to have a go at making some handles for jugs or vases. Which are the best woods to bend?

Thonet used good old beech, which is abundant over there. Elm would be a good choice, as would ash and other long-grained woods. Better in small diameters than beech, I should think.

Remember the basics and rive the green wood to keep the grain as continuous as possible. You'll also want to have straps for the outside of your bends, as they will be fairly tight. Small pieces may be beyond the bend capability of the wood, so consider if you can go with partially bent and then sawn, or laminated veneer.


Why not shop the hedgerows for wood that's already in the proper form or nearly so?
 
what wood to use for bending?

Scandinavians make a lot of bended furniture. Birch is used often.
Vacuumbending is often used, also by students, I remember: they make the system themselves.
Squirrel
 
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