How to Curve Wood With Steam
Curving wood with steam is a wise way to bend both young and mature lumber. The trick to steaming wood is to choose a piece that is not too young and not too old, and to keep the steam concentrated on the entire surface area at the same time. Pieces that are too young may not retain the bend, while those that are too old may be too dry and rigid to bend as much as needed.
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Things You'll Need
- Schedule 40 PVC pipe
- Drill
- Dowel rods, 1/4 inch in diameter by 6 inches long
- Measuring tape
- Wood
- Saw
- Delivery hose
- Brass fittings
- Water boiler
- PVC caps
- Meat thermometer
- Tongs
- Towel
- Gloves
- String
Instructions
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Build a steam tube. Drill 1/4-inch holes every 6 inches in the side of a 36 inch-by-4 inch piece of schedule 40 PVC pipe. Be sure holes go through on both sides. Insert dowel rods into each hole. Drill a tiny hole in the top of the PVC tube for inserting a meat thermometer later. The dowel rods will act as the surface on which the wood will sit while steaming.
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Attach a delivery hose -- via brass fittings -- to one end of the tube. Attach the opposite end of the hose to a water boiler.
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3
Insert the piece of wood into the steam tube. Close the open end of the tube with a PVC cap. Do not glue the cap, since you want it to be able to pop off automatically if too much heat builds up. Insert a meat thermometer into the tiny hole in the top of the tube.
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Turn on the water boiler. Maintain a tube temperature of 200 to 212 degrees for one hour for every 1 inch of wood thickness.
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Turn off the boiler. Remove the wood with tongs and place it onto a clean towel. Bend the wood as necessary, and tie it with string to hold the bend for at least 24 hours.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective gloves at all times to avoid burning. Remember, steam will burn your skin and eyes -- so use a steam tube with caution.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
