How do you steam bend small strips of hardwood edging (i’m covering a plywood edge)?


I saw an episode of New Yankee Workshop where they built a steamer out of a NEW (never used) metal gas can the was placed upon a heating element or camp stove the steam from the spout went to a chamber with the wood in it. After a period of time he just pulled the wood out with gloves on and shaped. He built a hat rack in that episode I believe.

http://www.newyankee.com/index.shtml

I looked up that episode,it is the one that shows wood steaming techniques, you can order a video of it for about 25 bucks.

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5 Responses to How do you steam bend small strips of hardwood edging (i’m covering a plywood edge)?

  1. chrisbrown_222 says:

    Doing this at home is a real mess. You do it exactly as it sounds. Being at home you can use the shower. Ten to one you will burn yourself so be prepared. Set up some way to hold the molding in place. Use clamps. Make wooden holders. Anything to cause the molding to form around the counter. You do not want to nail the molding to the counter until you have proved it fits. Also, it is better to allow the molding to dry and set before permanently attaching it. Place the molding on the shower floor and turn the shower on it, hot water only. Let it run until the shower is full of steam for a while. Turn the shower off and try to bend the molding. Don’t use force. When it bends easily. hurry it to your counter or what ever. Use clamps or other wood strips to form it to the edge. If it only goes around part way return it to the shower and continue. Good luck. How about a practice run with scrap molding?
    Vaya con DIOS
    References :

  2. Dave says:

    I saw an episode of New Yankee Workshop where they built a steamer out of a NEW (never used) metal gas can the was placed upon a heating element or camp stove the steam from the spout went to a chamber with the wood in it. After a period of time he just pulled the wood out with gloves on and shaped. He built a hat rack in that episode I believe.

    http://www.newyankee.com/index.shtml

    I looked up that episode,it is the one that shows wood steaming techniques, you can order a video of it for about 25 bucks.
    References :

  3. Jack says:

    Place them in a piece of pvc pipe. Place the pipe over a tin can with a screen on top with water in it and heat the water to boiling (maybe with a propane torch).
    References :

  4. Slim Whitman says:

    I saw an episode of Freeform furniture where she took bendable plywood, and build a jig, put everything in a big vaccuum bag and put pressure on it that way. She used Urethane glue to bond the layers.
    References :

  5. big_mustache says:

    They make thin veneer strips that already have glue on them. You just use an iron to heat the glue and a roller to press it into place. This veneer can turn a 3/4" radius with a little care. This is available at Home Depot.
    References :
    General contractor.