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Author Topic: Heat-bending mulberry  (Read 1763 times)

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Offline Scaramouche

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Heat-bending mulberry
« on: December 12, 2012, 05:43:21 pm »
I'm making a cane for a friend, and I'm wanting to put a Uish-shaped bend in the thinnest part to make a handle.

I'm planning on boiling it, and bending it over a form, with the top banded down with a metal strip. The section is approximately 1.25 inches in diameter, and eight inches long, and mostly heartwood.

How long should I heat it? Should I attempt the bend in one go? Should I give this 'wood' thing up and go be a baker?

HELP!
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Heat-bending mulberry
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2012, 06:29:14 pm »
I always steam bend mulberry. I have never bent anything near as thick as 1 1/4" before, so please lets us know how it goes. I will say that mulberry steam bends about as easy as hackberry for me. If it is pretty light stuff, it should survice I would guess, but don't quote me on that. I just read in a thread something like, for every 1/2" steam 45 minutes, or something like that. The important thing, whether steaming, or boiling, is just to get it as hot as you can. The hotter, the better.
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline zdogk9

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Re: Heat-bending mulberry
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2012, 10:47:39 pm »
having built about 45 SOF kayaks with steamed ribs, I figure that you'll need about an hour heating time. since you're doing a circular cross section start checking for plyabilty at about 35-40 minutes.
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Offline Scaramouche

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Re: Heat-bending mulberry
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2012, 08:23:35 am »
Thanks for the help, folks. I'll take some pics and post them later.
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blackhawk

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Re: Heat-bending mulberry
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2012, 08:29:39 am »
Uh..a kayak rib is not the same as a 8" 1.25" diameter thick piece bending it into a U. Your gonna have a tough time making that bend if its seasoned wood,and you'll have to steam or boil much longer than 35-40 mins to make it. Your best chance is doing it immedieatley after the wood is cut and its still dripping wet green,then steaming or boiling for prob almost 2+ hours at least.
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Offline Scaramouche

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Re: Heat-bending mulberry
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2012, 09:50:55 am »
I cut it back in August, so it's still a little green. But not fresh, that's for certain. I guess if it gives me too much trouble, I can go in my backyard and cut a green one.

It's for my buddies' birthday, which is the middle of January, so I still have time. Although, I may have to hotbox it afterwards to season it a little if I have to start over.

Thanks, Blackhawk.

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