Steam bending Iroko.

[jhughes]

Has anyone have any experience of steam bending Iroko, I need to replace some frames in the cockpit and was contemplating using Iroko as I have a reasonable priced source.
An old book I have lists Iroko as having a "fair" suitability for bending, the Iroko I have sourced is kiln dried but I can chuck it in the duck pond before steam bending.

 

[old_salt]

Don't know if that will work I think the Kiln dried will be a no go. soaking in a brine pit /tank would possibly help. we kept our Oak in a brine pit for over 2 years and it all worked well to the end. Green wood is the best to steam bend. and Oak is the standard used timber. Do a test bend with some of your a Iroko worth a try and let us know how you get on.
Cheers.

 

[nordic_ranger]

I think yoiu should consider laminating rather than seam bending that tpye of timber.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Ive steam bent American white oak that was kiln dried and it bent very well , Oak is know for its splintering between the sapwood and heartwood so i was quite amazed at how well and far it bent before it splintered .
As said above try a test peice before hand .

 

[rjp]

I had to replace a carlin on my boat and steam bent a 12foot length of 2inch thick iroko without any great problem. Not a very severe curve but it would have gone much further if necessary. General rule is 1 hour per inch of thickness and then work fast before it cools.

John

 

[cliff]

In my experience Iroko will steam bend quite nicely. As others have said 1hr/" of thickness and it will bend. Remember to use more bend than required to allow for some spring back. ¼ sawn will generally bend with less chance of tear-out than planked timber.. Personally, I would look at steam bending thinner sections and then laminating.
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[fisherman]

I steamed some 4x1.5 in Iroko for gunnels on a GRP hull. I used steel box section, closed at one end, propped up at the other and closed with rags, half full of water and a bleddy great fire under it. Most of the wood was in the water. The box gunnels on my present boat were done with the same outfit (not by me), and they are 150x40mm.

Don't know about suitability of Iroko for frames, I bow to the superior ignorance of others on that.