Hi Netters. If wood laminations are heated in steam , they become very flexible. When they cool down they take on the new shape that they have been held in. An extreme example would be tying a knot in an oak strip. A simple steamer can be made from a metal rain down spout (about 3 or 4 inch square tube) galvanized or aluminum. If you want to strip to be 10 feet long then use a 12 foot tube. Put a screen in one end. Place to tube on a slope. The wood strip goes inside it. An electric kettle is placed so that the steam is directed into the lower end with the screen. Let any condensed water run back into the kettle. It would be a good idea to insulate the tube if possible with soft foam or cloth. Steam the wood for about 30 minutes. Take it out and immediately force it into the bent position that you want. Let it cool. Now the subject of drying comes up. Some will want to dry it back to it's original dryness. That will take time. However it is interesting to know that a standard Epoxy resin like Shell 828, can be used with a Versamid 140 hardener on wet wood. As a matter of fact the bond with this system on wet wood is better than when the wood is dry. This has to be done to believe it. The time in the steamer should be as short as possible, just enough to let the wood become flexible. Experiment with it. It should be possible to bend all your laminations in one day, keeping them clamped into a mold until cool. Let them air dry for several days and then laminate with your regular Exoxy. Regards, Harold Woods Orillia ON. Canada.
haroldwo...@rogers.com
