steam bending wood

[RGKulas]

As I practice steam bending wood for a bow and other outdoor/hunting gear I took the steam bending thing to my feet and to create donations to Wisconsin traditional archer and WBH.

Ive wanted to learn to make snowshoes for some time but never got around to it. Now is the time I guess. Before I make actual sized and wearable shoes I will start by making half scale versions. Here is the process Im using as I learn about steam bending wood. Im using oak since Ash is hard to come by. I shape and thin the oak stick in the areas where the bends are otherwise it will break and I have broken many until I got a pattern that works.

 

The form I made.

 

The high tech steam creator (since one cant buy steam, premade)

 

The steam chamber is PVC

 

After a hour of steam It can be coaxed around the form.

 

and the nose bent

 

After a day or two its dry enough to hold the shape and crossbars are added and its sanded because the steam raises hell with the wood

 

Then I lace the heel and toe with deer skin and varnish everything.

 

[RGKulas]

Since the prototypes are half scale and cant be worn I will turn them into art pieces. The first batch will have deerskin leather enters with artwork.

 

 

 

Again, these are half scale.

 

Then I thought, since this is the 21st century I would make electric snowshoes so I bought a small light and cordset and fashioned up a lamp but I wanted a lamp that I could customize or change with the seasons. For the lampshade I printed oak and birch skin on legal sized paper on my printer. For the frame I steam bent small strips of oak.

 

 

Then I thought about adding a background that appears only when the light is on. (with oak)

 

Then birch

 

[RGKulas]

Then I went kind of nuts because its easy to change the skins.

 

 

The sky is the limit for options in regards to silhouettes but then I had another thought on how to customize behind the bark only when the light is on.

 

 

Then I went kind of nuts.

 

 

Now Im thinking 2 snowshoes side by side with bow limbs to create a shelf or other ideas for how to use these half sized shoes.

[mooshkat]

Wow!! you are doing some awesome stuff there my friend, you have some special talent, very nice work, i am impressed to say the least.

[rockkiller]

Beautiful      

[atatarpm]

The only thing I can say is THAT IS BEAUTIFUL

[BOWMARKS]

Very impressive!!!  

[sheepdogreno]

wow this is very impressive! you could make some serious money selling these!

[Fattony77]

I'd love to see some of those lamps in the upcoming St. Jude's auction! Although, I'm not sure I'd have the money to keep up with the bids that I'm sure they'd get!

Awesome work!!!

[Orion]

Nice lamps, Ron.  I may have to give that a go.  The key to bending wood is to use air dried wood, and the fresher the better.  Kiln dried wood is more prone to breakage.  Thinning the shoe where they bend most severely in the front probably wouldn't be needed if you use air dried wood.  

Of course, you also want to soak the wood for a few hours before steam bending.  Otherwise the steam pushes out too much of the moisture in the wood making it prone to breaking.  For stock about 3/4-inch square, 45 minutes under steam is enough.  More than that, and it drives out too much moisture.  I know this from bending stems and other wood parts in building wood and canvas canoes.

[RGKulas]

Thanks for the advice orion.

[Sharpster]

Beautiful work sir, just beautiful.    

I can't wait to see the full sized models!

Ron

[nineworlds9]

Absolutely phenomenal outdoors-inspired functional sculptures!

[Keith Zimmerman]

Coolest thing Ive seen in awhile.  I want some!

[RGKulas]

Thanks its a very enjoyable winter pastime.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Now those are incredible. Sure to make some serious coin at the WTA banquet.

[Mudd]

Beautiful work!!

The only wood I've bent is Osage. I coated the wood with crisco(prevents the scorching of the wood) and then used a heat gun until it was ready to move(you can feel it)

Keep the wood held in it's bend until it cools and it'll stay that way forever. I have actually quenched it in a snow back and that worked as well.

God bless,Mudd

[Roughrider]

Ron,  Good Job!

[RGKulas]

Each time I cut a piece of wood to make a snowshoe I have a piece of drop/scrap that I had been setting aside. Then I had a thought and placed the drop in the steamer box with the snowshoe wood and bent that piece of drop around a 25 pound plate from my weight set to form a wooden hoop. Since I am filling the center section of some of the snowshoes with leather and artwork I ink onto the leather (like this)

 

I thought, why not cut some tanned deerskin leather into circles and lace them onto the wooden hoops. So I did.

 

Then while attending one of the many gun shows I attend each year, I ran into a NA businessman who had a booth where he was selling all manner of native crafts. We spoke and I told him about the snowshoe wall art and lamps and the hoops. He was interested. He said he was also in the market for scale versions of birchbark canoes and stone point arrows so I spent last week in the shop and yesterday made my initial delivery of 2 lamps, 2 snowshoes and leather wall art,, a bunch of leather hoops, arrows and canoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RGKulas]