How to Bend Wood to Make Furniture
Craftsmen have used wood-bending techniques to make furniture for centuries. Bent wood is used to make the backs of chairs, banisters and many other household items. The easiest method to bend wood at home is to use steam. Steam bending requires attaching the steamed wood to a form at the end of the process, so you should choose a form in advance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Steam box
- Connection hose
- Water container
- Water
- Heat source
- Wood form
- Clamps
- Wood
Instructions
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1
Build a box to hold the steam, using PVC, metal or another durable material. Make the box large enough to hold the piece of wood you want to bend. Drill a few holes in the box to ensure that it's not airtight.
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2
Attach a water container to the box with a hose. Place the piece of wood into the steam box. Heat the water in the container with a safe heat source, such as a hot plate.
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3
Allow the steam box to fill up with steam. Check the box to make sure a small amount of steam, or a few water droplets, are escaping.
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4
Leave the wood in the box for 1 hour for each inch of the wood's thickness.
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5
Take the wood out of the box and place it onto a form quickly. Use gloves to prevent burns.
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6
Clamp it onto the form and allow it to dry.
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7
Use the dry, bent wood to assemble your furniture, sanding it down if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure that some steam can escape from the steam box, which will prevent the box from exploding from the steam pressure.
