Page 1 of 1

Work Table for Bending Iron

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:34 pm
by RnB
Came across this YT Video where the builder utilizes a table to aid the side bending process with using an Iron. For me, whose not quite proficient enough with an iron found it to be a useful item to keep the sides 90 degrees to the iron. I like his old school method of building.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvsDcM0HaqU

Re: Work Table for Bending Iron

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:02 pm
by Kbore
Thanks for posting that video, fantastic watching a craftsman work.

Re: Work Table for Bending Iron

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 10:14 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
He's using an iron that looks almost identical to mine. The table is a great idea. Thanks for posting.

Re: Work Table for Bending Iron

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:32 am
by tippie53
I tried a table and I never had any luck with it.
Here is one trick I did learn when I was hand bending

you need 2 things a pull slat you can take a piece of aluminum or stainless that is flxible and help sandwich tighter curves
A steam iron

When you are dealing with high figure woods there is a high degree of cracking because of the run out of the wood that gives it that distinct pattern Using a slat you can "PRESS" the wood with more control. The cracking comes from flexing it over the iron.
On high figure I used the steam iron with the bendind iron and with that I could steam the wood and heat on both side at the waist to get a higher degree of success in bending. It didn't take me long to realize the bending machine was more efficient . I can bend in less than 5 min but again I am doing a bit more . I bend just about daily .

Never be afraid to experiment. Find what works for you as there is always another way that works

Re: Work Table for Bending Iron

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 2:47 pm
by RnB
tippie53 wrote:Never be afraid to experiment.

I did make my own table. I thought it would be advantageous to this novice bender. Basically copied it from the video above.

Image

As a trial bend on Australian Blkwood that's the intended B&S wood I chose for this build, I used the cutoffs' from the back pieces to get an idea how well it would bend. It bent fairly easy & all went well even though the depth was way off...

Image

Figuring that the trial bend went w/o issue, I thought I'd go ahead & bend the sides for the SJ. I had thicknessed the sides down to .075", whereas the trial pieces were about .090". I didn't get very far on the waist bend when I started to feel a crack develop. After that, it was all downhill! Cracked the waist in 4 spots. A failed attempt...sigh! I should've been more careful w/ this flamey wood. Not sure if it can be saved?

Image

Re: Work Table for Bending Iron

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 7:03 pm
by tippie53
this can be repairable