Steam Box - New improved XXJ 2 . 4 +

MarkII is looking good mate sweet .

-- cut it saw it scrap it

Excellent SB! Heat move up right?

Can’t help you on any ideas for this one. I’ve spent my whole life looking for straight wood and you go ahead and start bending it.

-- Mike, Waukesha, WI

ohwoodeye…one could use a bent box to straighten the bentwood though :)

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Well done notottoman!

-- Antonio --

i was just think about building one of those!
we have an old industrial clothes steamer at work that one of the ladies here said she was going to take home…. that was 3 years ago! if figured i could modify it to work for a better cause! there are no pressed shirts in my shop:)
great job im taking notes!

-- Justin, STL Missouri

Looks like it will do the job really well. Good for you mate. If I ever need to bend some wood, this will be the way to go.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Nice Job, Big Guy!! Haven’t had to bend anything, yet, but that looks like the way to go…

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.

HeeHee… Great Mike’s like minds think…

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.

I saw a steam box made from an old rain gutter that worked pretty well. I am sure that steam came in from the bottom. Looking at yours I would try it on the bottom and then flip it on it’s side and see which way works best. What are you using to generate the steam? That’s a pretty fancy stainless pot I see in the pic. I have been thinking of making some canes from some brush and vines that are out in the woods and I am pretty sude that steaming the dried wood is the way to go. Best of luck!

-- Jim, Richmond Virginia

I had a go at the pvc as well no bueno for nothin this one look like the real deal good on you mate your in with a chance

-- jim nevada

Looks goods nice upgrade

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Looks great but I am confused about the measurements. Did you mean mm or meters. One mm is a thousandth of a meter. Or, 25.6 mm equal one inch.

-- Abe Low, Fine furniture, Sacramento, CA

Nice job on version II.
That sure enough looks like it’s up to the job.
Is you steam generator a refitted coffee pot?
Very ingenious!

Well done!

-- Eric

I needed a steam box for a small project. The bent and laminated pieces were of cherry for the ends of a coopered top of a chest. The steam box was made of wood, similar to notottoman’s but much smaller, 5” x 5” x 24”. The steam source was an old rice cooker. The box had a 4” dia hole in the center that was placed on top of the rice cooker. Worked fine but was soooo UUggllyy that after use the whole contraption went in the dumpster. ;-)

-- Abe Low, Fine furniture, Sacramento, CA

Looks a whole lot better than melted pvc that was up there. I was wondering,,, why is the copper pipe not running the entire length of the box? How long do you steam? I’m sure there’s some type of formula/chart that people follow. could you post lengthXwidth= time in box, just looking for a little food for thought.Thanks and can hardly wait to see finished project.

-- Which way did they go? Tell me, tell me I must know I'm there leader!!

Nice fix!!!
For those of you needing metric conversions here is a link: http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

What i’m makin.
I am making the top back arch of a wing back chair that will be upholsterd.
It’s a ,800mm or 80cm or (I think) 36” diameter . Planks are +/- 55” long and about a 1/3 of an inch thick.
The steam is generated from a 5 litre office water urn/kettle with a thermostat. The lid is 8mm ply with a dence foam rubber cushion to seal the rim. Then a 30 kg block of steel to make sure ALL the steam gets into the box. The steam shoots about a yard or more from the end of the flexi pipe when it is not connected.
So you can imagine the pressure it comes out of the holes of the copper pipe… The box does not build up pressue. Too many holes.
YOu guy’s grew up with inches.. I will never know what 3/16th is. If I had to read out loud the measurements of a drawing I would spit all over myself : -) five eightths. 22 and 4 sixteenths. I just can;t.
Metric for me. Easy and to the point. :-))

-- "Even small steps makes a distance." (Shawn Phillips, musician)

Actually 25 .4 mm per inch, but as far as I know the steam comes up from the bottom and you seperate the wood with spacers to allow good penetration of the heat, to all surfaces.There is no point putting in a pile of wood neatly stacked and steaming in effect the top few and bottom few pieces.Have fun.I know a friend of mine made a steam box from a large underground gas (plastic ) pipe it works very well.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Looks like you do your steaming in the afternoon… after you empty the coffee pot ;)

dont the metal slide doors get kinda hot? may want a wooden knob incase you forget the gloves or tongs.

Great job.

-- Dane, Fairview Pk, OH. The large print giveth and the small print taketh away...

I love the sliding door. I’m not sure about using a coffee pot unless you have a replacement to make coffee in.

With the kind of pressure you described I wouldn’t think it matters where the steam enters from. As long as the pieces have space between them you’ll fill the box up.

-- Father of two sons. Both Eagle Scouts.