Project by kiefer | posted 11-17-2012 02:10 AM | 18078 views | 28 times favorited | 30 comments | ![]() |
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This is my effort of using the micro wave oven instead of a steam box to bend wood pieces .
The first jig I build did not produce the quality of pieces as they cracked during the drying process.
I modified the jig by adding two timing belt straps retaining blocks to compress the wood during the bending process and not let it stretch .
The method I use for steaming is as follows .
Soak the wood for at least a day in water then wrap it in a wet cloth and put in the micro wave for about a minute then flip it over and let it rest for a minute and microwave for another minute .
Work fast during the bending process but methodically and have everything ready .
The results have been better and soon I hope I will turn the bend pieces into a box .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
30 comments so far
a1Jim
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#1 posted 11-17-2012 02:14 AM
Cool Jig Kiefer
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
waho6o9
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#2 posted 11-17-2012 02:18 AM
Looking forward to the box Kiefer!
Good idea on the microwave process as well.
yrob
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#3 posted 11-17-2012 02:51 AM
You place the flat piece of wood in the microwave with a bowl of water next to it ? Then remove it and bend it onto the form ? Is that how it works ?
-- Yves
woodshaver Tony C
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#4 posted 11-17-2012 02:51 AM
Ok..neat idea! But how are you holding everything togeter when you put it in the microwave? I’m thinking you can’t put the clamps in the microwave.
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
Woodenwizard
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#5 posted 11-17-2012 02:56 AM
interesting project. Thanks
-- John, Colorado's (Wooden Wizard)
kiefer
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#6 posted 11-17-2012 03:02 AM
OK
This is how I do it .
I soak the wood in a pot of water for a day and then wrap it in a hot wet towel and place it in the micro wave oven for 2 minutes pausing at one minute for a minute and also flipping it over .
Then I run to the shop, tripping over my dog and quicklyy putting it in the jig and bending and clamping the piece while my wife is taking pictures .
I guess I should have explained this in the post .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
woodshaver Tony C
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#7 posted 11-17-2012 03:10 AM
I’m still LMAO!!! I should of thought of that! Nice! And thanks for setting me stright!
Would I be wrong in saying ”that’s thinking outside the box”. :)
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
kiefer
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#8 posted 11-17-2012 03:30 AM
Tony
I love people that laugh and as far as thinking outside of the box I have to give credit to others but this steaming process sure works great and the last pieces have come out pretty good .
It’s a learning and experimenting process with some poor bends but I can still use some sections for other designs .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
MonteCristo
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#9 posted 11-17-2012 03:42 AM
Looks like you are getting close, real close !
-- Dwight - "Free legal advice available - contact Dewey, Cheetam & Howe""
woodshaver Tony C
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#10 posted 11-17-2012 03:45 AM
Kiefer,
I’m all for experimenting! I even do it in the kitchen when it’s my turn to cook. It’s people like you that bring good things to life. I also spend a lot of time trying to think of a better way to do things. I have tried the “Box” (microwave) a few times to dry a few small pieces of wood or melt so bees wax but I haven’t tried to do any bending YET! Thanks for your Post! It may come in handy someday!
Nice work!
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
kiefer
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5852 posts in 4165 days
#11 posted 11-17-2012 03:52 AM
Tony try this process and I think you will be amazed how pliable the wood is and if you look at the pics in the post you will realize it because I don’t use any levers, just my hands to form the wood around the jig which at the ends has a fairly small radius .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
woodshaver Tony C
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#12 posted 11-17-2012 04:08 AM
Kiefer,
I will give this a try. I can’t wait to see what you make using this jig. I’m making you my buddy so I can follow your progress. You have really got me thinking now! I’m retired and alwasy looking for something new to do!
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
lanwater
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#13 posted 11-17-2012 04:27 AM
They came out really good.
I can’t tell if you got a lot of spring back , since they are trapped between two rails in the picture.
I tried the microwave method few months ago and I had mixed results.
I moved the microwave to the shop; the wife wasn’t very pleased.
My next steam bending project will be with a steam box because of the size of the laminations.
-- Abbas, Castro Valley, CA
kiefer
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#14 posted 11-17-2012 04:38 AM
Tony
es retired is a good thing
and it gives you time to reap the rewards of a working life.
I am almost there Hurray !!!!!!!!!!!
Ian
Yes there is spring back on these but being in the retainer for a while it is minimal and I think I can work with it as the box will be also a retainer and if not I will change the form and make it a tighter radius .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
woodshaver Tony C
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#15 posted 11-17-2012 04:45 AM
Maybe if you nuked two thin pices and glued them togeter with some Titebond III in the form the work would stay put when dried? Yes? No? Maybe?
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
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