Today in the Shop "Building a steam box"

[thunderbirdbat]

How about using a metal duct for a liner in a wood box? It would allow for a tighter seal and having the wood around it would insulate the duct and prevent you from burning yourself on it.

[JPG]

Rectangular duct with an insulating shroud.

[algale]

Congrats. If it didn't work this time, I was going to suggest you needed a new thermometer -- one that read in wood species.

[Dansmith]

That's funny and clever, algale.

[JPG]

That may require some explaining!

Maybe too clever!

[masonsailor2]

Ed the one I used in the boatyard was I think 8" pvc. It looked like it had been in use for quite a few years and although pretty dirty worked well. We were steaming Teak and it definitely did the job. The advantage of the pvc is that you could size it to the job. For the thin strips you could use 2" or 3" pvc which would be cheap and probably be quicker due to less space to heat.
Paul

[reible]

I've done some more reading and it was mentioned kiln-dry wood is not very good for this process. And of course that is what I've been using...... oh well.

I've also noted that soaking wood for while helps, some said at least over night others mentioned days, but I'd think thin wood like I'm using it should take too long.

The videos I posted on saw dust were the parts I've made for the next round of twisting and perhaps getting to the actually project. I still need to make a jig to hold the twisted pieces which might happen tomorrow if the weather is good for it.

At any rate the oak is soaking:

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I'll let you know how this all turns out.

Ed

[Hobbyman2]

It cant hurt, how long do you think it will take to dry,,Small pieces can be slowly dried in a microwave or oven, those look pretty long for that.

[Hobbyman2]

how long do you think it will take to dry,,Small pieces can be slowly dried in a microwave or oven, those look pretty long for that.

When we did the boat rails years ago we let it dry in place on the boat so it was a perfect fit with no stress.

[reible]

All the pieces are bent and now I have to let them dry for a week or two.... or longer. They will be painted so we will have to see how that goes.

Soaking might have been a help but not a lot and it added time to the process. I can't say they did any better or did it faster or anything but maybe that is due to the nature of what I was doing.

Well here is the picture showing it happened, so maybe this will be it for this thread. We have gone beyond the build into testing and how it to producing parts...... I think that is far enough for one thread.

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Ed