For this workshop project, Ron introduced his friend and guest expert, Rick Peters, a maker of Shaker woodenware, who makes very interesting projects all from bent wood.
Click
Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete
this project.
View Complete
Video Segment.
|
|
| |
|
Although these pieces look very complicated to make, Rick showed Ron that it is really easy to bend wood, and once you learn how, it's hard to stop.
|
|
| |
|
1. Select wood
- The Shakers used maple or cherry to create their wares. It is important that the wood is quarter-sawn, which means that the grain is straight along the surface...
|
 |
| |
|
- ...and vertical on the ends. This is what enables the wood to bend without splitting.
|
 |
| |
|
- It is possible to cut the wood at home but it would require
a thickness sander to get it as thin as it needs to be.
Rick cautioned that it is dangerous to try to cut wood this
thin on the planer. The easiest way is to purchase the quarter-sawn
wood from a mail order catalogue or from the web.
|
 |
| |
|
2. Template
- The first thing they did was place a template onto the end of the wood piece to create the swallowtail pattern typical of Shaker woodwork.
|
 |
| |
|
- Rick traced the template onto the wood and marked the holes for the copper tacks.
|
 |
| |
|
- The wood could be cut out in a number of different ways. A scroll saw or a fine tooth blade could be used, but because the wood was so thin, Rick suggested simply cutting it with a utility knife.
|
 |
| |
|
- The thin pieces were easy to remove.
|
 |
| |
|
- Rick drilled the holes for the copper tacks using a 3/16th inch bit.
|
 |
| |
|
3. Heat wood
- Rick used a metal planter box with a shop-made lid to heat the water for bending the wood. The planter was set on a two-burner portable cook top and they allowed the water to heat to a boil.
|
 |
| |
|
- Before dropping the wood into the boiling water, they first needed to feather sand one end so that when the band wrapped around itself, the joint would not be as thick.
|
 |
| |
|
- Rick used a belt disc sander and a sanding block, which not only kept his fingers away from the belt, but also helped provide uniform pressure.
|
 |
| |
|
- A steady, uniform pressure on the sanding block was necessary to create the clean, tapered end he needed.
|
 |
| |
|
- Ron carefully dropped the wood into the water and Rick gently pushed it down with a pair of tongs to keep it submerged. They allowed it to stay in the water for about twenty minutes.
|
 |
| |
|
- Before removing the wood, Rick put on his gloves because the wood would be very hot. Rick had to work quickly. He only had about a minute before the wood cooled to a point where it would no longer be pliable.
|
 |
