What’s the general consensus regarding different fluids for softening wood prior to heating and bending. Water, alcohol or ammonia. If alcohol, what percentage. I normally use 95% for other things.
TIA,
Ron
TIA,
Ron
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I steam the woods when possible then clamp in a jig or form while they dry.
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Phil,
can you give me some specifics on your setup. What’s the steam source and what is the circular object on the top of the of the steam box.
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i simply use water and steam it works every time
circular item is a oven thermometer. the steam source is in the picture to the left of the box. i bought it at Woodcraft. it comes with the hose and fittings. its the Earlex steam generator. uses distilled water.
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Le Mercure ANCRE Plans
I will do a little research. My thought about it is, that the cellulair walls get destroyed. And the wood could go to dust. But that was a thought of me, need to research this. Or maybe as you say a chemicus among us could explain.
shipsofscale.com
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This may be cheating but I have used this tool to put grooves on the backside of the plank to get the bend I want. Practice with some scrape as to how many grooves and at what depth. Got the tool at Model Expo
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Las vaporetas de limpieza caseras van fenomenal, las planchas de vapor, hervirlas en agua, etc
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Planks seldom bend in one plane only (apart from the upper hull planking)
Below a wale the plank needs to curve in 2 planes and , often, twist also. I can't speak for bending walnut veneer as I only single plank usually with maple but I also use basswood if a hull is to be painted. I find that water is all I ever need to soak. Most, if not all jigs, will not give the shape required to fit a plank. I always securely clamp the plank into it's intended position on the hull and allow to set. The result is a complex shaped and twisted strake ready to fit without splitting or straining the wood and without any (distressing) buckling.
Below a wale the plank needs to curve in 2 planes and , often, twist also. I can't speak for bending walnut veneer as I only single plank usually with maple but I also use basswood if a hull is to be painted. I find that water is all I ever need to soak. Most, if not all jigs, will not give the shape required to fit a plank. I always securely clamp the plank into it's intended position on the hull and allow to set. The result is a complex shaped and twisted strake ready to fit without splitting or straining the wood and without any (distressing) buckling.
I have also used the Artesania plank bending tool with total success. It works easily every time. I am nearing the end of building the double planked HMS Victory by Caldercraft. Every plank was bent with this tool with maybe 6/7 planks which split. I tried steam at the beginning but at my age, 78 I could be gone before the first planking was done.
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I just wet the plank and bend it on a plank blending tool. I can’t remember where I saw the idea, but the difficult bends I make a form the same thickness of the plank, soak the plank, then bend it around the form, clamp it down and use a tiny steam iron to iron it. Works great. Thank you to whomever wrote that article on using a steam iron.
I guess I should not offer any ideas as it seems most has been covered. But, I am old school in the fact that I run very hot water on the plank for about 15 seconds or so. Then I have a nice plank bending tool that came with a maple template that has preset curves in it.
If I am doing something that is really thick like a beam then I will bend the beam with my hands / fingers under the warm running water until the desire shape. Then I will take some push pins and secure the "shape" down on the bench until it dries. I usually slightly overbend it as it will have a tendency to relax some.
It seems that I saw either a youtube video or someone on this site that homemade a steaming chamber. This way, the length was customized. If I happen to find that video, I can attach it later.
If I am doing something that is really thick like a beam then I will bend the beam with my hands / fingers under the warm running water until the desire shape. Then I will take some push pins and secure the "shape" down on the bench until it dries. I usually slightly overbend it as it will have a tendency to relax some.
It seems that I saw either a youtube video or someone on this site that homemade a steaming chamber. This way, the length was customized. If I happen to find that video, I can attach it later.
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The technique is from Chuck Pasarro's yt video 'planking the Winchelsea'.