I begin!

[huisjen]

First I brought home a bunch of lumber on a day that barely got up to 0° out.

http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/huisjen/boatlumber.jpg

Then I sawed some up into laminating strips.

http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/huisjen/shop.jpg

I built a mold to bend the stem lams on, built from a large pallet and some scrap plywood from the dump...

http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/huisjen/stemform.jpg

...after I steam them in the steam box we got from Katey's grandfater.

http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/huisjen/steambox1.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/huisjen/steambox2.jpg

I'm going to put a turkey fryer burner under the steambox as a heat source, and probably drape something over the steambox to insulate some where it wouldn't be right over the flame. And I'll have buckets of water and a fire extinguisher at the ready.

Dan

edit: the plan:
http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb. php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=003187 (http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=003187)

[ 01-29-2004, 12:28 PM: Message edited by: huisjen ]

[Venchka]

Good going! The shakedown cruise will be the RAP 2004, right! ;)

[huisjen]

Wrong! :D By the time of RAP 2004, I hope to have some sail time in and know what I'm doing in her.

I lit the fire under the steam box this afternoon and cooked a scrap of stem/rib stock for half an hour (It's about 1/2" thick, although the ribs should be slightly thinner.) and tried bending it around the tightest curve of the stem jig. This is the first time I've steam bent anything. It seems that I can cook it enough to bend it, although there was a lot of spring-back when I removed the clamps a few minutes later. I assume that won't be a problem if I (a) leave it clamped longer and (b) do the laminations as planned, doing the glue up on the jig. One stem will be six laminations, the other seven. (Don't ask. :rolleyes: It's just that I'd allowed for more tablesaw slop and more planeing, but why waste wood?)

I draped a couple large bits of cardboard over the ends of the steam box, well away from flame. Katey was good enough to let me use her (very accurate) cheese-making thermometer, and I found that the temperature in the box was 152°, not quite the 212° I'd hoped for, but it seemed to do the trick.

The other problem I discovered was that I needed more blocks defining the curve, so I added four more. Next time I fire up, I think I'll actually bend in earnest.

Dan

[ 01-29-2004, 04:40 PM: Message edited by: huisjen ]

[imported_Steven Bauer]

My only steam bending experience wasn't boat related but it was lots of fun. I built a tobbagan a few years ago. Very sharp curve in a tobbagan! I used pieces of lexan for a backer strip. I don't think you'll need a backer for that curve. Take lots of pictures.

Steven

[Hughman]

Well done! no, make that medium rare..... :D

Nice teakettle. an heirloom, too.

Don't forget the pot roast!

[brian.cunningham]

built a mold to bend the stem lams on, built from a large pallet and some scrap plywood from the dump...and here I am buying the stuff.
Great idea!

[Jim H]

Very cool Dan!