Blog entry..Winter Awards 2008 (Added pics...teasers though ;) )

NPDH!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I never would have tried to steam bend a framing 2×4. I would have done a bent lamination. I have an idea the soft wood of the 2×4 will not accept steam bending the way that harder woods will.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com

Sorry about the problems. I understand that HD still has some 2X4’s in stock if you want to try bent laminations.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †

Lamination is the way to go.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

nothing ventured

nothing gained

that what doesnt steam well and bend, generally doesnt bend well without steam

you cant have both in one step, or even two ar three or more steps, patience and as many as needed. It’s a lot like cooking.

steam the laminations and bend

steam the laminations again and bend again

then steam and glue the laminations when ready

those who never made a mistake, never did much.

Cheers

-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal”…..Picasso

I feel your pain.
I tried and failed at bending this stuff.
I will go with what roman said, it did not bend well no matter how thin I cut it for laminations.
But I am sure you can do it, you got the skills.

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

I can relate more than you know. Good luck my friend.

Rikkor and Ryan. My sympathies are with you. I’m just pleased I didn’t go for a chair incorporating bends. I hope you had more success last night Ryan.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

oh Tom.. don’t rub it in—“No pictures; didn’t happen”—THAT”S the problem- it’s not happening!!

Keep the faith!! Don’t give in…...... You shall conquer… (and then a little Tim Allen man grunt for you)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (https://www.facebook.com/DebbiePribele, Young Living Wellness )

Oh yea, the man grunt.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com

Thinking about this on my comute to work. I had always heard that successful bending required air dried lumber. The kiln drying locks in the fibers. I wonder if this has something to do with it.

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

try buying your 2×4 at h. d they have plenty already bent !! lol

laughed out loud at that one MrTrim

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (https://www.facebook.com/DebbiePribele, Young Living Wellness )

My sympathies . But I just don’t understand !

When I did my 2×4 project the pieces bent all by them selves.

-- Brian, Ontario Canada,

Thinking about this on my comute to work. I had always heard that successful bending required air dried lumber. The kiln drying locks in the fibers. I wonder if this has something to do with it.

Yes, the fact that wood should be green or air-dried has something to do with it….AND the fact that softwood “can’t be steam bent”, AND the fact that every stud I looked at had full arc grain (made from small trees!) AND the knots that are ever present in framing lumber…...what can I say, it’s a challenge!

I am happy to report that my shop time (untill 1:30 AM) last night paid off….I actually managed to get 1/4” material to steam bend….and only got second degree burns in the process :)

To all that were talking about bent lamination, well….this design calls for both. some of the strips had to wwrap arounfd a tight radius, so glue laminating was out. Even at 3/32” they wouldn’t bend that tight, so I wen’t whole-hog and bent the full 1/4” thickness with the steam. Now that the individual strips are out of the forms, I have bent laminated them into another series of forms….forms forms forms…now I know where my time went!

I should be into glue-up tonight, and (God willing) sanding and finishing before the time limit is up :)

Thanks for the words of encouragement, I was at my limit last night and I needed that!

Ryan

-- Want to see me completely transform a house? Look here: http://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/showthread.php?41055