how is wood bent permanently (like cane chairs style)?

Question

what types of wood are suitable for shapeing/bending, what are some uses of the wood after it is shaped?

Answer 1

The wood is soaked in water for days (or steamed), heated, and then gently bent and held in vices until it dries. This makes a permanent curve in the wood.

I found the following information at the link below. It's a very easy-to-understand guide to wood bending.

"Easiest woods to bend: Plain Indian rosewood and plain maple are the easiest to bend. Rosewood has resins that make it pliable, and maple is tough, so it holds together well.

Medium difficulty woods: Plain mahogany and walnut are next in difficulty. These woods are somewhat brittle and resist bending if the conditions aren’t just right.

Hardest woods to bend: Figured woods are the most difficult to bend. Figured curly koa is particularly tricky to bend. Curly maple and figured rosewood (particularly Brazilian rosewood) bend just a little bit easier than curly koa."

Answer 2

First you have to soak the wood in water, then slowly form or bend into desired shape, make sure you have a way to hold that shape til wood is completely dried out. Remember to make shape tighter than you want it because it will expand as it dries. Suitable woods would be any soft woods, like poplar wood. Uses are headboards& footboards, hand railings, chairs and art pieces.

Answer 3

I had to really think about this one. It is going to depend. If both you knees and hips bend the other way, your legs could go to the back of the chair...guess you would really need a stool. But if your hips bend normal, and your knees bend forward, if you try to sit at all, your legs are going to stick straight up in front of you from the knees down. So, you would really need some kind of padded kneeling bench. Or, if you don't bend your knees, you could use a chaise lounge type thing with your desk or whatever fitted over it

Answer 4

I saw Norm on this old house use steam to bend wood. It was in a big box or something w/ clamps in the preferred shape. Depends on indoor or outdoor use as to what wood 2 use.

Answer 5

It depends on the type of wood, the shape, the end-use of the wood, etc. A high quality sleigh bed uses solid pieces of wood with weight added to bend the wood. The combination of the heat, moisture, pressure, etc., all combine to warp the wood into the desired shape. Smaller pieces need less pressure, heat, and moisture to achieve the desired shape.

Have fun!

Will D
http://www.notagz.com/

Answer 6

In case of Cane - they heat up the cane with blow torch and bend it to required shape or contour.....

Answer 7

its done with heat, not direct flame, and steam. then gentle pressure and time.

Answer 8

steam. any kind. arches