Bending Wood

[Doug James]

I have been trying to bend some 3/32x3/16 mahogany around the stern,and
it keeps braking. I tried steam,ammonia, and today soaking the wood in hot water for about six hours,and No luck.

[patmat2350]

Mahogany ("my agony"?) is tricky because its grain is so big-- many weak spots to break at. Two suggestions:
1. If you plan on painting your Seguin, substitute basswood;
2. and/or build up the rail from thinner strips which will be easier to bend.

[more coffee]

3/32 ..kinda thick i think to get around a stern ..

Now you can get a jig and a iron with a ball on the end ,dont know how they work

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/a7205_lrg.jpg



Ive tried this ..worked well ..use 2x1/16 or 1/8 thick board fare it off ..and finish with 1/16 thick mahogany veneer

[Doug James]

Once I had posted, I noticed the similar threads at the bottom of the page and their
are a lot of good ideas there as well. One old post suggested mahogany stripes soaked in hot water and laundry softener mixture in pvc tube. However seeing I am out of
mahogany it's a good time to try the basswood.
That plank bender also looks interesting does it caude the wood to smoke or change color?

[more coffee]

Like anything i guess ..if the wood is dry and you hold the heat there long enough ..it will brown and smoke..

make sure its good and wet follow up with a clamp ..allow it to dry ..shouldnt be a problem i dont think ..