Thread: Bent timber stock.

Stock bending is an art. Properly done in a bath of hot linseed oil. The stock is braced with several adjustable clamps and bent after heating. Usual to over bend as the wood will "return" after cooling somwhat. Best to use a professional unless ypu accept a risk.

Having steamed bits for boats, I'd steam the whole thing and have a form, to bend it to and clamp it to.

A good thick plastic bag in a wooden box is all that is needed to contain it, the stock and form inside that. Steam for some hours, open and adjust clamps a bit, repeat as necessary.

As Woody says below, 1 or 2 mm would be my guess.

Originally Posted by Woody

...Usual to over bend as the wood will "return" after cooling somwhat...

Originally Posted by MarkN

Having steamed bits for boats, I'd steam the whole thing and have a form, to bend it to and clamp it to.

A good thick plastic bag in a wooden box is all that is needed to contain it, the stock and form inside that. Steam for some hours, open and adjust clamps a bit, repeat as necessary.

As Woody says below, 1 or 2 mm would be my guess.

This. And for proper penetrating heat don't skimp on the steam time. This may mean several refills of the wallpaper steamer's reservoir unless it's a big industrial one.

The steam itself is not what does the job but it's just a means of delivering heat. The heat softens the wood's lignin which then allows bending of the wood with relatively light effort. Once the wood cools and is released from its clamping it retains its new shape ... with no springback! Magic!

I did it once with a twisted No 4 lower wood, using a clear polypropylene plastic sock designed for heat sterlisation of instruments. Allowed me to pre-clamp it to the desired shape before heating, which avoided rushed handling of hot wood.