: I just made my first attempt at steam bending the coaming lip on my
: stripper. I spintered out my pieces at the front of the coaming
: trying to make the bend on two axis'. I steamed for about 30 min
: and one end seamed good but only up a few feet. Do I just need
: to wait longer? I was thinking of soaking in the bath tub for a
: little while then steaming??? How long should be enough
: steaming? I have set up a small electric burner with a tea
: kettle and a 10' x 1 1/2" PVC pipe.

: Thanks

General rule, an hour in the steam box per inch of thickness. Over steaming makes the wood brittle. The moisture means nothing, it's the heat that does the work, but excess heat is as bad as over steaming (too long in the steam box) makes the wood brittle. Ideal is lots of wet steam but it has to be contained in the box (tube) and open tube won't capture enough steam for it to heat the wood, but a completely closed tube (ends plugged) won't allow enough steam either. Have to experiment.

Btw, if you're PVC tube isn't bending from the heat, it's not hot enough, PVC deforms at about 200 degrees, you need 212 degrees to steam wood, so if the tube isn't bending you're not getting the wood hot enough, need several supports to keep the tube from turning into a bow :)

You also have no time after the wood comes out of the steam box, thinner sections are worse, they cool faster, you might have a few minutes to complete the bend before the wood cools enough that it won't bend anymore, have to wear leather gloves and work fast. Helps to have several pieces of wood as you'll break a few.

Bill H.