Wood Facts A Series Sunday

[Dawie]

Lets go round the bend today
David
White Oak {Quercus alba} is the species of wood that is easiest to steam bend. With thin stock {1/8 inch or thinner} you can bend it, into an extremely small {tight}radius.
http://www.ohio-nature.com/white-oak-tree.html

[Russ C]

I have bent Red Oak before and it wasn't to bad. Never tried White Oak, I don't think it was available at the time. Thanks for the info. 

[julief]

Boy, that's good to know.  I have avoided a couple of projects because I have had no success with bending wood.  I may have to revisit those projects.

[jimbo]

They used to build sailing ships from oak in England and they steam bent fairly big lumber, oak has a long grain and this why it is also impervious to insect attack
Jimbo

[Marcellarius]

Wood and water/steam is done a couple of time by Woodwright's shop

bending for a crutch:
http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2900/2909.html

arrow through a bottle and a nail locked in the wood:
http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2900/2906.html

they have more great video's