Steam bending is a process of making wood more pliable by using steam, allowing it to be bent around a mold. The heat softens the hemicelluloses in the wood, making it more flexible. A steam box is used to achieve maximum results, and the wood is typically soaked in an aqueous solution before being added. After steaming, the wood is fixed in place with a jig-type fixture or mold. Steam bending has a long tradition in woodworking and was first used by the Vikings for boat construction.
Steam bending is the process of using steam on wood to make it more pliable. The wood can then be bent around a mold, which will give it the desired shape. Steam bending is a common method employed in woodworking and is often used in fields such as shipbuilding, furniture making, and musical instrument making.
The science behind steam bending is that heat softens the hemicelluloses of wood, which are polymers found in it. Since these hemicelluloses have resin-like properties, when they soften, the piece of wood can be bent. Some of the more common woods used in steam bending include oak, ash, mahogany, and walnut. In general, hardwoods tend to bend more easily than softwoods.
A steam box can be used for steam bending. This is a specially designed container into which wood is placed, in order to achieve maximum results. The dimensions of the steam boxes can vary according to the type of wood to be used. Many times, the wood is soaked in an aqueous solution before being added to the steam box. This makes the wood more moist, and as the heat in the steam box draws this moisture out, it becomes more pliable.
Steam boxes are usually not airtight. Steam enters the box at one end, and a small hole is made at the other so that excess pressure can escape. The amount of time a piece of wood is placed in the steam box generally varies based on its size and type. A general rule, however, is that wood should be steamed at a rate of one hour for every inch (2.54 cm) of wood thickness.
After the wood has been steamed, it is typically removed from the steam box and placed into a jig-type fixture. This fixes the wood in place, allowing it to be bent in the desired direction. Molds can also be used to give wood a specific shape, and are often employed when the same shape needs to be repeated several times. Sometimes it is necessary to bend the wood as quickly as possible once it is removed from the steam box, as the steam-induced flexibility of the wood can dissipate as the wood dries.
Steam bending has a long tradition in the history of woodworking. It is believed that the Vikings were the first to use this method. Steam bending was an ideal technique for producing the bentwood needed for the construction of their boat.
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