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The Hot Pipe Method for bending wood
From Josh Brande of Eugene, OR:
I’m currently building some Shaker-style ladder-back chairs. The slats are 1/4-inch thick by 3-inch wide and must be slightly curved for the right appearance. I have no way of bending them — I know about steaming but don’t know how to construct a steam box. Is there another, easier way to do this?
If your slats are only 1/4-inch thick, steaming isn’t necessary. You can bend them on a hot pipe, instead. It takes a little practice, but it’s really quite simple. Here’s how I do it on my woodburning stove:
I get a good fire going in the stove, then press my wood gently against the stovepipe until I feel it start to give a little. Be careful not to press hard enough to disconnect the pipe or loosen the connections between sections. When you feel the “give”, move it a fraction of an inch and press again. Don’t let the wood get too hot or it will char.
If you don’t have a wood stove, try grasping a 15-inch to 18-inch piece of 2-inch diameter copper pipe in your metal bench vise, then heating it with a torch or over an alcohol lamp. Do NOT let your pipe get red-hot -- or press too hard with your board. |
