Steam bending
Encyclopedia
Steam bending is a woodworking
technique where strips of wood are steamed to make them pliable and are bent around a mould. It is a time-honored method in wooden boat building
for shaping boat frames. It is also used to make traditional wooden lacrosse stick
s.
Steam bending is limited in the degree of bend it can achieve, particularly for thick members. Also, not all species of wood steam-bend well. It weakens the wood slightly and can leave residual stresses which may cause breakage or spring-back over time.
New methods of steam bending developed in 2004 by an English designer, Tom Raffield, whilst studying at Falmouth College of Arts, have allowed the constraints of wood bending techniques to be expanded, allowing one piece of wood to be bent several times in 3-D forms.
Woodworking
Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
technique where strips of wood are steamed to make them pliable and are bent around a mould. It is a time-honored method in wooden boat building
Boat building
Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.-Parts:* Bow - the front and generally sharp end of the hull...
for shaping boat frames. It is also used to make traditional wooden lacrosse stick
Lacrosse stick
A lacrosse stick or crosse is a long-handled racket used to play the sport of lacrosse. Players use the lacrosse stick to handle the ball and to strike at opposing players...
s.
Steam bending is limited in the degree of bend it can achieve, particularly for thick members. Also, not all species of wood steam-bend well. It weakens the wood slightly and can leave residual stresses which may cause breakage or spring-back over time.
New methods of steam bending developed in 2004 by an English designer, Tom Raffield, whilst studying at Falmouth College of Arts, have allowed the constraints of wood bending techniques to be expanded, allowing one piece of wood to be bent several times in 3-D forms.