Simple start.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Does anyone still steam planks of wood?

You betcha! Not only does it make clamping them a whole lot easier but you're not building any unnecessary stresses into the model. My other preference is to laminate such things as gunwales and chines, so a 1/4" x 1/4" strip would be made up from two laminations of 1/8" x 1/4", gluing the second one onto the first only after it has fully set.
Don't knock it if you ain't tried it…

Dave M

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 02/08/2018 12:06:13

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

I was not "knocking it" more like I was asking a question!!! This was more likely to lead to someone advising how you go about it?

How do you raise your steam?

What kind of steam tunnel can you make at home etc?

If anyone has the answers I would like to hear them?

Brian

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

It can depend on what you are steaming. For very thin stripwood just flexing it over a saucepan of boiling water works OK.

I also use a hand held steam cleaner which comes with a variety of nozzles. I don't actually do much steaming but it is of course possible to put your plank on a flat surface and introduce curvature by bending it around a former or sequence of pegs to the required degree (in stages if necessary) and then apply steam from the steamer.

Colin

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Brian

"Don't knock it if you ain't tried it"

Just a daft quotation from the past, old thing – in this case I think from the 60's musical "Hair". It On "another forum" any such advice would be a catalyst for criticism or argument so I tend to pre-empt that with a flippant remark. It's a sad consequence of the 'social meeja' age. Forgive me if it caused offence; none was intended. I suppose that I ought to go back to my old comment "works for me".
To answer your question I too use the kettle method, which has the bonus of being an opportunity/excuse to make a cuppa afterwards. I find it helps to dilute the Jack Daniels…

Dave M

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Ok. So i bend them around a former. Steam them. Leave them to dry/set and then remove them from the former. Hey presto bent planks👍

If its balsa wood. How long will it take to steam them? Can i just play the steam on the wood untl its soaked🤔

Brian

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Brian
My own preference for the models I make is basswood, which is harder and has a straighter grain than balsa. I don't routinely use balsa strip but the technique is identical – it's just the timing that may vary. Just holding it in a gloved hand in the steam from the kettle and gently testing the bend will give you an indication of how much steaming you need. For 1/8" x 1/4" bass it's a couple of minutes at most. I 'over-bend' the part and then hold it against a former until it is cool. You can always re-steam it if it's not bent enough. Practice makes perfect.
Do allow it to cool and dry out completely before you glue it, especially if you're using a PVA or aliphatic adhesive.

Works for me…

DM

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Brian,

My favourite material is obeche for stringers, I've never had to steam anything, having said that I have some metalworking rolls, like a mangle but with a third adjustable roller this gives most materials a curve

Regards Ray

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Hi Ray. It looks like your laminating the stringers. I never thought of that. That will be easier to do🤔

When i get home i will have a look at that.

Brian

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

So the chine stringers are going on. I ended up cutting them from sheet to make sure i had similar strength of wood. They seem to be bending and gluing ok.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

So the last glueing session this morning to fix the chine stringers at the front. All clamped up and looking good this evening but I will let them fully cure for 24 hours before I remove the clamps. I have a small razor plane and just could not help having a little go at the stringers at the back end, there is something strangely satisfying about planing wood !!

My radio, sail winch and other bits have been out for an airing as well. Once I free the frame from the building board I will fit the gear and set it all up. So watch out I will be asking questions as to which is the best way for the rotary sail winch.

I also received some new spring grip clamps to replace the paper clips, I ordered 12 of them so they should help holding things together.

My neighbors also gave me a load of sheet lead to make the keel with so looking forwards to making that bit.

B

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

For some reason my photos will not up load.

Tonight I planed the chine stringers to match the formers. I am quite pleased with the result. Sarik are delivering the .8 mm ply tomorrow so I will have a go at cutting a template and then cut the bottom sheets to them. I am going to let them overhang the chine stringers by a small amount and then when I get to the sides sand both back to shape.

So far I have only used Aliphatic glue. Will this do for attaching the bottom sheets or should I use epoxy?

B

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Brian,

I use Gorilla wood glue, it's water resistant and cheapish in Wilko's

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Aliphatic is fine if you already have it.

Colin

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Ok. Thank you. I will have a bash with the stuff I have.

When I get my photos to up load I will let you see where I am at.

Brian

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Managed to upload the photos. Hope the vicar dont miss the lead 🤔

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Having flattened the lead the next job was to cut it to size and clean it up to accept glue. A quick wire brushing sorted that out.

I glued it together with contact adhesive and then clamped it down to my cast iron part of my bench. It now been in that position for about 2 days, i just want to make sure the glue has a chance to set correctly.

I have planed most of the chine to accept the hull bottom sheets and it only needs a little touching with a sanding block to get it all in shape.

My sheets of .8mm ply never came, Sarik posted by parcel force so i may end up chasing them up tomorrow if it does not come?

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

My chest has been bad for a couple of weeks and the moist atmosphere in the workshop does not help, but today with it being a lovely day i decided to move out of the workshop and into the garden to play.

The ply i ordered had been with me for a couple of weeks so it was nice to have things to hand rather than having to go for it. I bought four sheets so that i have stock.

I firstly cut the sheet to fit around the keel, then clamped the sheet in place so that i could draw around it and then cut it out. I was very patient and used a craft knife and rule. I seem to remember cutting some before with the kitchen scissors. Age and practice, hem hem !

The .8mm ply bends to shape quite easily, so after a trial fitting i glued it in place with the Aliphatic glue. In the heat the glue soon started to go off and i was tempted after an hour to fit the other side, but my thoughts of the skin popping off because i was impatient got the better of me.

I had already bought some more clamps (12) but even they were not enough and i had to use some clothes pegs. I will get a few more clamps from flea bay, i don't suppose you can have too many.

I am on a train ride tomorrow on the Churnet valley line, so i may not get the other side on. I will have to see, and the fitted side may need a little sanding to accept the other side's fit.

The sheet popped up a little around the keel base, so i tacked it in place with a pin.

I didn't use the scissors. Honest!

Brian

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Brian,

The sheetings looking good, we love dragging the grandchildren round the preserved railways we did the Kent & East Sussex !last weekend , wonderful vintage 6 wheel carriages

Regards Ray

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Hi Ray, i used to stay at Colina House hotel when i was working in headcorn. On an evening i would walk down to the station there and have a look around. Its a charming old railway.

Brian

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

This evening i fitted the second half of the bottom skin. It took a bit of fiddling with the mating centreline joint and at the bow i will need a little filler, but all in all i was happy with the finish.

Probably get it sanded to shape tomorrow ready to take the sides.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

I thought it was going too well. Like a dummy i missed shaping the keel plate at the bow enough to let the skins run to a nice sharp edge. I have glued them both in place and not noticed it.

I will have to sand it flat and put a hardwood strip in place and then sand that to a sharp point. I will probably do that before fitting the side sheets?

Live and learn

Brian

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Well, after a long while another thread on this forum has motivated me to get on with this job.

I suppose i will end up with two on the go 🤔😂🤗

I eventually laminated all the lead sheet and fitted it to the keel plate-board. A bit if rough sanding an now it shows all the hollows and cracks so a bit of body filler and then i can sand it down.

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Hello Brian

It's great to see another sailing yacht take shape.

Tim R

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