: Hi All,
: A while back Dick Gamble posted some info on steam bending. And a response
: from Rob Macks (I think) got me to Lee Valley for an electric steam
: kettle. I got it in the mail yesterday, along with a booklet on steam
: bending and promptly tried it out. I decided to give the soaking bit a try
: and found that as Lee Valley stated, it doesn't work. I broke both pieces
: I soaked. I was successful on the next several pieces and am happy to say
: that the kettle and steam box works great. I only had one problem, I found
: that steam bends PVC pipe real good as well. I'll have to replace it with
: galvanized pipe before my next bending project. I'd post a pic but
: Geocities won't let me

Bonjour,

First set-up I used was 6 feet long, 6" PVC pipe, I put a T in the middle and kettle under it. One small hole at each end to let steam out. Condensate return to kettle in lower centre (about 1" slope).Never had to fill the pot.

PVC does bend but with good support it's OK. I've used it outside by -15F without any problem.I use an old model of kettle I can set to boil non-stop.Modern kettle have a thermal protection that stop heating when water is boiling. Steam production is lower since heating goes on and off.

I now use a 4" ABS pipe about 12 feet long for bending long strip. ABS don't seems to bend.

When I work on big pieces I use Lee Valley steel strap kit to avoid breaking the outside fibres of wood.