Steam-Bending Instruction Booklet

Yes, it's a comprehensive guide specifically written to walk you through using Lee Valley's own steam-bending equipment.

Yes, these steam bending instructions are available as a free printed booklet on request, or as a downloadable PDF.

Steaming softens the lignin that binds wood fibers, making the wood pliable enough to bend around a form. It then has to be held under compression, typically with a strap and end stops, so the fibers on the outside of the bend don't stretch and break as the shape sets.

Air-dried domestic hardwoods bend most reliably. Oak, hickory and elm can bend down to about a 2" radius, walnut to about 3", ash to about 4 1/2", and cherry and maple need a gentler 6" to 8" radius. Exotic woods and softwoods generally don't bend well and should be avoided.

The general rule is one hour of steaming per inch of thickness, regardless of width, using unpressurized steam at 212°F. Wetter wood, around 30% moisture content, needs a little less time, while drier wood around 15% needs a little more.