In another thread (on strength of 1/8" strips) Hank did write:

>While I am rambling on about wood grain I might as well add that selecting and >cutting wood to the grain pattern allows you to make components (like deck >braces) thinner or from a lighter (weaker) wood with out loss of strength. Wood >cut with the grain can also be formed easier. I steam bend my cockpit rims from >a single piece of ash with great results.

>Why my infatuation with grain patterns? I make "primitive" wooden bows out of >logs - if you violate the grain the bow WILL fail. Some of my "character" bows >look really weird because the limbs of the bow twist and curve to follow the >grain - but you should see them shoot!!

Now, I have been reading on the net about the Veritas steam bending system, just because I have been thinking about maybe using this for making cockpit rims. The idea of curved massive wood do fascinate me. To form the ring as planned seems to be not so difficult. What do scare me a bit is the task to get it to fit on the deck if the deck is not perfectly flat.

Can Hank and/or other persons with experience elaborate a bit?

Jan Gunnar