Replies

1. 
   TomS | Sep 28, 2002 05:11pm | #1

   As in many postings, a bit of information on what will happen with this wood once it is bent would be helpful.  If you need some information on traditional bending techniques for Windsor chairs I would be more than glad to help out.  Mouldings or stair risers are a whole different ball game.

   Tom, too

1. 
   railbeau | Sep 28, 2002 11:01pm | #3

   Tom too,

                Thanks for answering.  I'm building a rocker for my granddaughter and I need to bend the top of the back.  I'm using poplar and I had a 1x5 piece, but I changed and bought 3 pieces of 1/4" x5 cause I heard it would bend easier with the thinner strips of wood.  I now need to know how to bend it.  Thanks!  Tom too

1. 
   DennisS | Sep 28, 2002 11:22pm | #4

   Hi Tom -

   If you have a band saw, the first step would be to make a male and female mold for the bent laminations. Bending the thinner strips will, in my limited experience, be superior and easier to accomplish with more predictable results than trying to bend the entire thckness. In bending a single piece there's a rather hard to perdict amount of spring-back whereas in laminating the pieces, the amount of spring-back is or can be almost negligible.

   You might not need the female part of the mold if you cold bend the pieces and do the glue-up of all three pieces at once. One thing you'll need to think about is the number of clamps you have; you'll need at least one more than you have or purchase! (grin)

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

2. 
   Benjamin2016 | Sep 28, 2002 05:26pm | #2

   Hi Tom,

   Nick Engler's book "Woodworking Wisdom" (ISBN 0-87596-651-9) has a terrific chapter devoted to bending wood.

   Marc Adams also has a good video out on the subject "Bending Wood".

   Marc has a website where you can purchase the video. Just search on "Marc Adams".

   Last, Fine Woodworking has a book on the subject titled: "Fine Woodworking on Bending Wood", published in 1985.

   They are all excellent references. Engler's book has plans for building your own steam bending machine.

   Good luck!

   Benjamin

3. 
   eddiefromaustralia | Sep 28, 2002 11:39pm | #5

   Tom,

   Heres a good "how-to" that may answer your question.

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=43626&category=1,42172&ccurrency=3&SID=

   Cheers, eddie

4. 
   theRev | Sep 30, 2002 02:05am | #6

   I'm just a litle confused over the nomenclature. Are you talking about steam bending or are you talking about bent laminations? Two different approaches in my book.

   Re: spring back. It is predictable in both cases. In the case of steam bent, you have to bend one first and measure how much it moves after drying. With bent laminations, the amount of springback can be predicted ahead of time. Take a look at this thread

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=6798.3

   or this page

   http://www.homestead.com/DaveWoodshop/coldbending.html

   In my opinion, if you're doing a one off piece, then a bent lamination is easier and quicker. But I think I would use more than three laminations.

   Scott

1. 
   Elcoholic | Sep 30, 2002 06:37pm | #7

   As others have said a bent lamination is easier for a one-off.  It's also the only way in some cases to bend a wood not well suited for steam bending - like the maples or mahoghany.  Since poplar is a maple bent lamination would be the best way to go.  If you want to try your hand a steam bending start with white oak, nothing is easier.   If you have a bandsaw then you can always saw the curve into the crest rail and skirt the bending issue all together. John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne