Subject: Re: [baidarka] Steam box
From: Windwalker (windwalker@fastmail.fm)
Date: Fri Feb 21 2003 - 03:54:31 EST
On Friday 21 February 2003 14:30, Randy Wright wrote:
> OK, I mostly just watch this sight and try to learn somthing in case I
> ever get around to building a boat of my own. I have not tried to steam
> wood yet, But I do know a little about steam under pressure.
> I worked on steam systems in the navy.
>
> Here is what I know.
> Steam under pressure is a lot!!! hotter that steam in an open system.
> Pressure cookers are designed to be sealed.
> Trying to vent steam off to send to a steam box could be a big problem.
> If you try it be very carfull.
>
> Here is what I suspect:
> The steam vented from a high pressure source is hotter and dryer than
> steam in an open system and would drive the moistrue out of the wood.
> It may be more like putting it in a very hot oven than in a steam box.
>
> If you vent the pressure cooker to the steam box so that little or no
> pressure builds in the pressrue cooker, Then you have a standard steam
> box. If you let pressure build in the pressrue cooker and only vent a
> little steam at a time I suspect you run into the problems mentioned
> above.
>
> This is only my opinion, and like I said I have never steam bend a tooth
> pick. But I would be very carful using steam under pressure.
>
>
It dont take much steam to have a steam bender. We use one of two we have
One uses a heating element {electric} from a old water heater.
The other a burner from a propane water heater. Out Steam box is nothng
more than a 12 ft run of ditch pipe conduit closed one end. with upper
vent.
Following the traditional methods of steam bending is what I do.
"Pressure" Steaming in not needed. NEver had any problem with my set up
And at one time, I built one wood/canvas canoe per month.
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