I'm looking for wood that can be steam bent - the Lee Valley guide suggests domestic hardwoods air dried to around 20%. Any ideas where I can find air dried lumber in the triangle area?
Mike
Chapel Hill
Mike
Chapel Hill
Uh, and Mike - he should know (Phil that is) because guess what - he has done a hundred times and even in front of an audience!While there are many suppliers in the area, Jack Murdock http://www.ncsawmill.com provides air -dried and that is best for bending. Once the wood fibers have been heated up as during kiln drying, they are harder to bend - they take a set during the kiln drying. As stated the use of a compression strap helps greatly, warm wood fibers compress much better than stretch and the compression strap keeps all the fibers in compression.
Jedi mind trick he uses, does he? with this one, strong the force is.Uh, and Mike - he should know (Phil that is) because guess what - he has done a hundred times and even in front of an audience!