steam bending

[reinbilt]

Greetings Forum

I have recently built a five foot long wooden steam box so I can bend some stem laminates for a 16 foot canoe. Rather than using a tea kettle,hot plate, and radiator hose to generate steam I would like to find an electric self contained unit that's dedicated for this purpose. I thought about buying one of those $30.00 "clean machine" units used around the house for cleaning bathrooms, ect. but did'nt think it would produce enough steam or run long enough. Anybody know of such a unit?

[reinbilt]

Greetings Forum

I have recently built a five foot long wooden steam box so I can bend some stem laminates for a 16 foot canoe. Rather than using a tea kettle,hot plate, and radiator hose to generate steam I would like to find an electric self contained unit that's dedicated for this purpose. I thought about buying one of those $30.00 "clean machine" units used around the house for cleaning bathrooms, ect. but did'nt think it would produce enough steam or run long enough. Anybody know of such a unit?

[reinbilt]

Greetings Forum

I have recently built a five foot long wooden steam box so I can bend some stem laminates for a 16 foot canoe. Rather than using a tea kettle,hot plate, and radiator hose to generate steam I would like to find an electric self contained unit that's dedicated for this purpose. I thought about buying one of those $30.00 "clean machine" units used around the house for cleaning bathrooms, ect. but did'nt think it would produce enough steam or run long enough. Anybody know of such a unit?

[Gerald]

I have had good luck with a pressure cooker. Add a valve and hose to the lid and when you have a head of steam open the valve.
Sorry can't help with the other.
Gerald Niffenegger

[Gerald]

I have had good luck with a pressure cooker. Add a valve and hose to the lid and when you have a head of steam open the valve.
Sorry can't help with the other.
Gerald Niffenegger

[Gerald]

I have had good luck with a pressure cooker. Add a valve and hose to the lid and when you have a head of steam open the valve.
Sorry can't help with the other.
Gerald Niffenegger

[Ed Harrow]

Allen Taube writes of such a device in his book Repairs Below the Waterline (or something close to that). IIRC his design uses a 220V heating element, that will tolerate being run dry (important!!). Such elements also exist in 110V form, but I don't know if the BTU output of the two is similar.

[Ed Harrow]

Allen Taube writes of such a device in his book Repairs Below the Waterline (or something close to that). IIRC his design uses a 220V heating element, that will tolerate being run dry (important!!). Such elements also exist in 110V form, but I don't know if the BTU output of the two is similar.

[Ed Harrow]

Allen Taube writes of such a device in his book Repairs Below the Waterline (or something close to that). IIRC his design uses a 220V heating element, that will tolerate being run dry (important!!). Such elements also exist in 110V form, but I don't know if the BTU output of the two is similar.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Go to www.leevalley.com (http://www.leevalley.com) $34.50

http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/steambending/05f1401s2.jpg

Steven

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Go to www.leevalley.com (http://www.leevalley.com) $34.50

http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/steambending/05f1401s2.jpg

Steven

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Go to www.leevalley.com (http://www.leevalley.com) $34.50

http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/steambending/05f1401s2.jpg

Steven

[Bruce Hooke]

When I was helping an artist with a project that needed steam I believe we got a standard hot water heater element and mounted it through the side of a steel container. If you can get one (or two) that will not destory themselves if the water drops below them, that would certainly be advantageous because you will almost certainly run low on water occasionally.

I'm guessing that you want to go electric because you are doing this inside. If so just be aware that the process puts a LOT of water in the air, so pay attention to what is around and especially above the working area that may not appreciate being soaked in moisture.

Keep in mind, as well, that it is very nice to be able to have a second pot of water that is near boiling to top off the steam pot when it gets low without stopping the flow of steam to the box.

[Bruce Hooke]

When I was helping an artist with a project that needed steam I believe we got a standard hot water heater element and mounted it through the side of a steel container. If you can get one (or two) that will not destory themselves if the water drops below them, that would certainly be advantageous because you will almost certainly run low on water occasionally.

I'm guessing that you want to go electric because you are doing this inside. If so just be aware that the process puts a LOT of water in the air, so pay attention to what is around and especially above the working area that may not appreciate being soaked in moisture.

Keep in mind, as well, that it is very nice to be able to have a second pot of water that is near boiling to top off the steam pot when it gets low without stopping the flow of steam to the box.

[Bruce Hooke]

When I was helping an artist with a project that needed steam I believe we got a standard hot water heater element and mounted it through the side of a steel container. If you can get one (or two) that will not destory themselves if the water drops below them, that would certainly be advantageous because you will almost certainly run low on water occasionally.

I'm guessing that you want to go electric because you are doing this inside. If so just be aware that the process puts a LOT of water in the air, so pay attention to what is around and especially above the working area that may not appreciate being soaked in moisture.

Keep in mind, as well, that it is very nice to be able to have a second pot of water that is near boiling to top off the steam pot when it gets low without stopping the flow of steam to the box.

[Paul Scheuer]

The one I built used two household dishwasher heating elements at about 900 watts each. I had it wired so that I could switch from the max 1800 watts to 900 or 450 watts once I got the steam up. Dishwasher heaters can run dry, can be formed to required shape (within reason) and can be bulkhead mounted with two nuts. You can probably get the elements at Sears. They are a tube with the resistance wire supported in a packed powder in the tube. My unit, which finally rusted out, was a 5 gal bucket with a ductwork elbow attached to the lid. I used a length of double-wall flue pipe for the steam chamber, and could have added additional lengths if necessary.

[Paul Scheuer]

The one I built used two household dishwasher heating elements at about 900 watts each. I had it wired so that I could switch from the max 1800 watts to 900 or 450 watts once I got the steam up. Dishwasher heaters can run dry, can be formed to required shape (within reason) and can be bulkhead mounted with two nuts. You can probably get the elements at Sears. They are a tube with the resistance wire supported in a packed powder in the tube. My unit, which finally rusted out, was a 5 gal bucket with a ductwork elbow attached to the lid. I used a length of double-wall flue pipe for the steam chamber, and could have added additional lengths if necessary.

[Paul Scheuer]

The one I built used two household dishwasher heating elements at about 900 watts each. I had it wired so that I could switch from the max 1800 watts to 900 or 450 watts once I got the steam up. Dishwasher heaters can run dry, can be formed to required shape (within reason) and can be bulkhead mounted with two nuts. You can probably get the elements at Sears. They are a tube with the resistance wire supported in a packed powder in the tube. My unit, which finally rusted out, was a 5 gal bucket with a ductwork elbow attached to the lid. I used a length of double-wall flue pipe for the steam chamber, and could have added additional lengths if necessary.

[Tom Wilkinson]

I use a wagner wallpaper steamer that I bought a lowes for around $30.00. Works great, all self contained and will run for around 2+ hours without refilling.

[Tom Wilkinson]

I use a wagner wallpaper steamer that I bought a lowes for around $30.00. Works great, all self contained and will run for around 2+ hours without refilling.

[Tom Wilkinson]

I use a wagner wallpaper steamer that I bought a lowes for around $30.00. Works great, all self contained and will run for around 2+ hours without refilling.