OK figured I would try to give back a little now that I've been feeding off all your responses, over the last year. One tech that I developed in bending was using a clothes iron to run along wood on steam setting works on most thin wood also make a belt out of trim coil if your wood keeps splitting place on force side of bend and use as strap will usually keep from getting blown out or splintered once bent in place with furniture I use a combination of moisture setting glue and pins (one sided staples without heads for those that don't already know) to hold while glue sets with these pins I don't usually pull out they sit under surface of wood (I am not suggesting to use pins in marine construction unless they make marine grade) Using staples I will be pulling back out, here is the trick that some might not know though with holes I have always swelled the wood to close.Place thick wet towel over hole sand using same iron on high hard steam holes begin fairing, sanding as I call it and repeat 2-3 times. A little extra time but not much will post pics and times later. I hope this helps someone and if neg. to tech anyone knows please correct. Always look forward to learning Knew things from other folks instead stumbling on, again first marine construction, but have built cabinets and furniture quite often.
Have a good day
Joel