Boater's Service Tips
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March Boater's Tips -- Steaming Bending Essentials
I found this helpful information in Wooden Boat Magazine. I thought I would share it with you all. Enjoy!
Happy Boating!
Joel
~MPM. The Apprentice's Workbench. "Steam Bending Essentials"
Wooden Boat Magazine #179. Pg 40
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STEAM BENDING ESSENTIALS
Steamboxes come in all shapes and sizes: The fundamental problem is to generate steam and then contain it in a chamber. We've seen devices cobbled from such everyday items as a stovetop tea kettle (the steam generator) and a mailbox (the steam chamber; see WB No. 88).
The steambox illustrated here is the one that's been used at Wooden Boat School for many years. Heat is generated by a propane burner-the type used to cook large vats of chowder outdoors, and commonly available at hardware stores and retail superstores. A new metal fuel can (not a used one!), clearly marked for its purpose, is filled about halfway with water and placed atop the lighted burner.
The wooden box is fabricated of 3/4" pine, joined at the edges by lap joints and screws. One end had a removable plug, which, when removed, allows multiple sections of steambox to be joined together to accommodate long bending stock; the other end has a hinged door for easy access. A sturday stand supports the box so the door is at eye level.
Steam is directed from the can to the box through a hose, which is attached to the box by a surface-mounted fitting screwed (and bedded, to prevent steam leaks) to the middle of the box's underside.
The box has three levels of "racks," which are formed by several dowels run across the box in the same plane; the racks allow for orderly placement of items to be steamed. So as to not "overcook" your frames, it's a good idea to stagger the loading of the box. You might place, say, four frames on the top rack and, after these have been steamed and are being removed from the box for bending, have your helper load additional frames onto the next-lower rack. Careful timing will result in just right steam time.
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The basic requirements of a steaming apparatus are to generate steam and to contain it in a chamber large enough to hold frame stock. The one shown here has proven successful for many years at Wooden Boat School; multiple sections can be joined together to accomodate extra-long stock.