Replies

1. 
   DennisS | Dec 04, 2003 09:13am | #1

   Anderson -

   I've only done one steam bending project so far but here's my steam generator setup -

   I took an old hot water heater, cut the top off and a section out of the middle then brazed the top back on the bottom to make about a 10 gallon container. Took some old pipe fittings I had lying around and made a filler tube that fills the tank from one of the already there threaded openings near the bottom of the tank, what was the water heater drain tap. Used some more scrap pipe stuff to thread into the top taps to connect the steam hoses - two 1" car heater hoses I had lying around (as well).

   For the heat source I located and bought one of those propane lead melting heaters plumbers used to use years ago when they joined cast iron hub & spigot waste pipe. This thing puts out the BTU! I can boil that tank with 5 gallons of water in about 10 minutes!!

   The tank rests on three scrap angle iron legs welded onto the side at a height just right for the burner.

   This is probably overkill for most people but, like I said, I had most of this stuff lying around begging to be used for something.

   I made a curved handrail for our deck stairs - the inside railing pitch change portion at the landing. I made it out of redwood. Not a good choice by any means but here (again) I had a nice pile of clear heart straight grained redwood so thought I'd give it a try. Surprisingly, I didn't have much in the way of failures even with the redwood.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

2. 
   sailalex | Dec 04, 2003 04:16pm | #2

   I set up a steamer using 2x material; just determine the size material you will be steaming (for the long haul) and screw material together in a box with an opening on one end to slide in the planks. ( I just stuff rags into the end where the planks are inserted to fill the rest of the opening around the planks.) I found a fireplace polyurethane sealant that I applied to the joints but I am not sure it is needed. Mine used 2x10's and 2x4's to accomodate planks about 1" thick and 9"wide; the overall length is about 4 feet ( I am only steaming the ends of planks for a boat project ).  The steam source is a tea kettle on a camp stove with the steam funneled into the box via an auto radiator hose. I drilled a hole into the bottom of the 2x10 box at one end, embedded a somewhat heat resistant plastic fitting, and attached the radiator hose to it with a hose clamp. I tilt the end of the box, that is away from the steam source, so condenced water will flow back down the box, into the recessed plastic fitting, and back to the tea kettle.

   Another alternative that I have seen is to use  4"  plastic pipe (like PVC, but heat resistant, don't know what it is called); the ready made caps can be applied to the ends, a "Y" joint somewhere near the end to drain the condensed water back to the tea kettle. This arrangement obviously is limited to smaller pieces of wood, like strips for a kayak/canoe or other smaller projects.

    Hope this helps and you can understand my poor description.

1. 
   DonStephan | Dec 06, 2003 04:22am | #3

   In the past I have used a propane camp or turkey fryer burner and a 5 gal steel pot, rigged hose to 8" x 8" x 4' plywood box. For the next project requiring steam I will buy the electric kettle offered by Lee Valley. Much safer and convenient than the propane burner.