Steam Bending Wood in a Microwave

Using a microwave oven to steam bend small pieces of wood. These are White Ash, 9 and 16 inches long, for a wooden 1880's Melonseed Skiff project. Pieces are 1.5x.5 inches thick. These will become bentwood knees to support the side decks.

Site:
http://web.mac.com/eyeinhand/EyeInHand-Journal/Melonseeds/Melonseeds.html

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• steam
• bending
• wood
• microwave
• white
• ash
• wooden
• boat
• melonseed
• sailboat
• skiff

[monacoguitar]

Would have liked to seen the amount of springback after releasing the clamps when the pieces are dry.

[eyeinhand2003]

@monacoguitar Ah, sure. In this case there was very little - maybe 5% - but I left them in the forms until completely dry. Also, they were only out of the forms a short time before they were glued and screwed in place. The pieces that didn't get used eventually lost about 15% of their bend. 

[eyeinhand2003]

Cool, so did you make your drum rims?

[eyeinhand2003]

Not sure exactly what you mean by horizontally, or how much bend, but bending wood so thin in one direction will be very easy, and the other nearly impossible beyond a few degrees. Musical instrument makers use something they call a bending iron. If you search on that term you will find several examples of homemade versions here on Youtube, using a cheap heat gun.You can't post links in these comments, so you'll have to search it. Good luck.

[eyeinhand2003]

Thanks. Love the egg turning video, btw - similar in spirit to microwaving wood.

[jfan4reva]

@redoleary They were prolly nice pants before he started wearing them in the shop - LOL!

[gregoryscottsr]

I watch a guy do this with long pieces of oak in a wood box he built. He was also a boat builder.

[queenniedelrosario17]

all types of wood can be microwaved and bent right? :)

[icearnett]

He doesnt have to say anything... There are alot of videos that should be shot in this manner now that I think aboout it.

[rockexpert]

thank you so much

[redoleary]

Hey, good video. Wonder if you could have worn a rattier pair of pants. Prolly not. Men!

[Rannyfash]

ha, your woods bent