How to Build a Steambox (10 things you should know)

Have you ever wanted to steam bend wood? Or build a wood steambox? In this video you'll find everything you need to know to build an efficient steambox
Rockler Steam Generator + kit
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[@JimmyOnions1]

This was the best "how to build" video I've ever seen. Quick, clear, and awesome. Thank you!

[@tomwinters4367]

Clear and concise. Everything you need to know in one well thought out and informative video. Thank You !

[@tjlaroidesign]

This is so much easier than every other video ive come across; simple, honest, easy. Thanks!

[@markpeppers6950]

nice straightforward video. love the approach. beats videos that have a hype video begininng like its prepping for the superbowl lol

[@Lythrox]

Awesome. I have a lot of ideas for projects and you just gave me a quick and cheap way to bend material. Thank you.

[@detroitfan009]

This video is exactly the info I was looking for, and right to the point! Great video!

[@thebrawlingmage9353]

Jus got a hunch for bowmaking so naturally i wound up here and wasnt disappointed

[@Jarrett-b8v]

The steam box in the work table goes crazy, can’t wait to get mine going🎉

[@tomgreer9998]

I've thought about this for a while; Now, I have the confidence to do it! Thanks so much!!

[@waltdavis29]

Very straight forward, easy to comprehend. I’m going to be bending much smaller stock, poplar that is no more than 2’ long, 2” wide, 1/4” thick. Should I just make the steam box just slightly bigger? Maybe less steam time? I’ve ordered many things from Rockler, thanks for the link for their steamer! Ordering it now!

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Yeah it sounds like you can get away with less steam time and the box can be built to whatever size you'd like. It sounds like yours can be smaller if you wanted too. Thanks for the kind words!

[@waltdavis29]

@ that steamer unit you refered to? Found it at a Rockler store 25 miles from my house, last one they had! Picked it up this morning! Now I just gotta build the box. You have given me well springs of ideas, thank you so much!

[@jonwollenberger]

Hi there was thinking of buying the Rockler but on the website I see a Prop 65 warning that the product contains lead, among other things. Do you have any information on that?

[@neverz653]

Excellent information. You are appreciated.

[@dankcoyote]

Just a heads up, you used a solid piece of plain sawn for the door. That’s why it warped. Cedar shingles(for example) are basically quarter/rift which is why they don’t curl under the heat of the sun.

[@adrianpoesiat]

Thanks. You’ve illustrated how to wonderfully. This explains a lot.

[@Author_Alyssa_Taylor]

Hello -- I'm a woman and complete amateur for woodworking. Thanks for posting this. I need to make my box much wider as I want to make a top for a hand made desk. Two 14 inch wide planks. Sounds like I have some work ahead of me!

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Wow! That is one heck of a job. It might be easier to cut them into strips 1st to help with the bending and the size of the steamer you need. Then you can glue them back together.

[@fishhuntadventure]

The lignin exerts 100-150lbs of initial resistance after steaming for each ~1 square inch of end grain. As it gets wider the resistance increases but not in a linear fashion. Not sure which direction you intend to bend the planks but … I’m not confident that bending wide planks is going to be a successful practical approach especially if the species is not within a limited group of woods where the grain/fibers are not interlocked.

[@SnahLhug]

It's a big project. 14” wide jig for bending is gonna be massive, too. Clamping is gonna be a nightmare, not just because of the force needed, but also making it sturdy enough. Holes drilled in the bench for steel bars with clamps on top could work.

[@brendonhowbert9330]

Very informative! I'll be downscaling this type of setup for wooden pipe stems. Thank you. :D

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Awesome!

[@IsaacJukes]

Very informative and helpful. Really good video, much better than any of mine. I'm going to try and build a similar box for future projects.

[@susanlin7778]

If only all how to videos was this quick and to the point. THANK YOU

[@Andyloveswood]

It looks like your helper contributes a lot!@

[@SoundsToBlowYourMind]

Some great ideas here, thanks!

[@Mooseslife]

I knew. It! I saw the shape when you were bendi g it and said it looks like my toboggan!

[@aarontravieso7784]

What do you think of using a sort of "float valve" as they use on pressure cookers to avoid the steem explosion?

[@TheEffoff]

3:12 bonk

[@jamesschwamberger7958]

Thanks for the info. Now it's time for me to get to work.

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

Quick FYI: there are multiple types of flue pipes available and the single wall galvanized is (by your own admission) inferior as it transfers heat AWAY instead of containing it. Instead, you can buy double wall insulated flue pipe for tankless water heaters (they can’t use plastic; BTU’s are too high) to eliminate some of the hassle.

[@notasleanstillasmean3593]

Cool. Think a steam box will be my next project. Will make one to take barrel staves so will be a bit smaller.

[@timgwaltney5770]

Great tips. Thank you

[@haighyvshaighy]

nice idea

[@juliehagan7667]

Do I need to attach the steamer to one end and the door on the other, or can the steamer be connected on the door? Also, what thickness and kind of wood do you use in this video?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

@@juliehagan7667 It doesn't have to be designed exactly like it is in the video but I put the steamer on the low end because steam rises and needs to fill the entire steam box. You could put the steamer on the door but then you would have to make sure the door is at the low point. Sorry I don't remember what kind of wood I used in the video. The greener the wood the better it will bend. Hope that helps

[@ss8tzb]

Thanks for the video! How did the spray foam handle the heat? Have you used it repeatedly?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

I've used it a bunch and the spray foam holds up just fine😁

[@ss8tzb]

Great! Thanks!@@WyldeWoodworks

[@jessewales5664]

Awesome. Video 🎉🎉

[@leecrook6918]

Excellent, really great video.....only need to bend a length of oak beading so for the steam generator will probably use a wallpaper stripper......has exactly the same continual steam set and threaded connector. Do hardwood species need longer steamimg?

[@matthewmcbride3201]

How long does the wood take to set, after its held into place

[@milordzik_]

How long does it take wood to dry out after the steambending?

[@DReyn0]

thank you

[@davidblair7686]

Looks great, think I’ll try and build me one.

[@christopherweber3373]

Great video thanks for the instruction. I'm trying to straighten whiskey and wine berral staves. 1 inch thick by up to 4 inches wide. Do you thing this method would work for that? I was originally using a jointer and planner but I feel that I am removing too much material and want to keep that beautiful char and wine stain of the oak. Thanks again!

[@IJA9002]

How long should I leave it in the form to cool and maintain that shape? Super helpful video by the way👍

[@fgbestwayInc]

Can this be used to straighten wood boards and how long it would take the wood to dry to used for building a project? Thanks

[@JitendraWagh73179]

Is there a suggestion to remove guitar belly with steam. Have u ever done it ?

[@jayshreve4567]

So is using steam a faster or better method than soaking wood in water for wood bending/twisting? My first wood bending project was twisting the wood to a spiral using water that took days of soaking and several trips from letting it dry after twisting then back to soaking it again then to letting it dry in it's twisted position. Think I did this 3 or 4 times. It was a ridiculous experience. But it finally lloks good. Although I wish I used a 3 inch pipe instead of a 2 inch pipe.

[@everydaywithaj8028]

Would this bend an oak galley rail?

[@cdanieldewey9034]

Great video and thanks. Question…what did you mean by referring to a pressurized box vs a non pressurized box? If you’re bending hardwood like ash will your box be ok for say an hour per inch? Thanks again.

[@jameshuntley428]

Great video

[@PsychNurse.]

Wondering thinking 🤔 if a metal gutter would function as a steam box.... 💡

[@milordzik_]

What type of Wood can I bend ? Dried Wood or maybe a wood that has just been cut down while ago?

[@HeliRy]

Awesome stuff! Quick question, any idea if cedar steam bends very well or just it just snap regardless? Such a brittle wood when cut thin 🤷‍♂️

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Cedar is definitely more difficult to work with but I have been able to do a few pieces of cedar

[@laurenbayless2792]

I built this steam box and when I did a test run, one of the walls of the wood cracked when the temperature started rising. I would assume it was just the wood expanding. Can you tell me if I was supposed to use a special wood?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

There are a bunch of reasons why it could crack when bending. But yes, some woods will work better than others.

[@stevethomas211]

Got a question. I was thinking of using a Hot water tank. with that idea you have a way of filling the tank and a way to let the steam out. I have a burner that use propane. I am asking, would this be a way to bulid it, with your idea on the box. Please get back with me. Great video.

[@firilla]

Is it possible to bend teak - app 10 mm in thikness at a radius of 200 mm?

[@aaronplatz3032]

Hey dude cool set up. Is bending 4x6 treated posts possible? Cedar probably. For a.rocking hammock or other such ideas? Maybe even 6x6 posts?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Chances are the lignin in the wood will be too dried out in anything construction grade. You might have some luck if the green treated post is still really wet when you buy it but I would bet not. A better option would be to either buy a green post and treat it yourself after you bend it or cut it into strips and do a bent lamination. Hope that helps!

[@aaronplatz3032]

ty it does@@WyldeWoodworks

[@nickcennamo-smith1854]

Would this metod work for tree branches? I know it's still wood but it's untreated so not sure how much difference that would make. And for the time meassurment you said "45mins per inch" which I'm assuming refers to thickness not length? Great video! I will certainly be following this when I build mine (though it will be significatn;y smaller ahha) :)

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Yep it refers to the thickness. Absolutely works for tree branches. The greener they are the better it should work

[@nickcennamo-smith1854]

@@WyldeWoodworks Thanks a bunch! ^_^

[@michaelmedeiros2143]

How long do you recommend leaving the piece in the fixture before taking it out to dry?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

I leave mine in for a week or 2. It can help reduce the spring back

[@PatriotNerdDad]

Wait hold on, what do you guys mean? Wylde said to leave the wooden for a couple hours or whatever. What do you mean by fixture?

[@PatriotNerdDad]

@wyldewoodworks What was the nozzle you used for the steam vent???

[@WyldeWoodworks]

@@PatriotNerdDad I think it was a threaded barb of some sort. I don't really remember to be honest but you can really use anything you want

[@haileaanderson4214]

Do you have any blueprints or measurements to follow?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

No sorry I don't. It's not too hard of a project though

[@zackpierce6541]

You mentioned 45 minutes per inch of material, is that for the thickness or height?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Thickness

[@jgar8563]

What temp does it have to be ?

[@LangeloScuro]

OMG, this was like an awesome mini flashback video loaded with great information!

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Thanks!😁 I knew you'd recognize it😂

[@bohbro]

I’m looking to bend some 6x1 hardwood decking plank to about 10’ radius. Is this possible do you think?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

It depends on the orientation you're talking about. If you're bending it in the direction of the one inch thickness, then yes. That should absolutely work. But if you're trying to bend it in the 6 inch direction, I'm not sure. I would guess no. A big factor there is getting wood that isn't too dry.

[@bohbro]

@@WyldeWoodworks thank you! Yes I’m just bending through the 1inch thickness. The wood I’m using is an Indonesian hardwood called kwila and come pre-oiled. I’m wondering if the oil content will make it harder to bend. Any idea? Cheers

[@WyldeWoodworks]

@bobroh I don't know for sure but I wouldn't think the oil should do any harm. If the lignin in the wood is dried out too much It won't take a bend as easily but I bet it would still work. Good luck!

[@bohbro]

@@WyldeWoodworks brilliant. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated. Cheers.

[@tarussell94]

how much did the materials cost you?

[@DalyMalcolm]

Cool 👌

[@miroslawmoczyrog]

I wonder if a insulated aluminum duct would do the job?

[@intelligenceservices]

it looks like that pipe would be easy to deform so it's flatter to accept wider pieces of wood.

[@diattedesigns]

Do you have any experience bending slabs of wood and kiln dried wood?

[@alexnicholson9329]

Was wondering if u still remember where you got the stove pipe from, or at least the measurements, because I'd love to make a steam bending box myself and Im having trouble finding a big enough pipe

[@fishhuntadventure]

??? Any hardware store or stove shop…

[@alexnicholson9329]

@@fishhuntadventure It looked too big for that (UK based too so idk what it's like elsewhere)

[@SnahLhug]

Try some vent duct, the ones they use for fast food places. Should be similar, galvanized, probably last a good while. Use glass fiber insulation if you know how to deal with it (experience w gloves, eye protection, glass dust). But this PU foam is ok, too. Easier to work with.

[@johnstetkewicz7283]

Thanks, I'm off to the races with this info.👍🇺🇲⚓️

[@DjAlanBarratt]

You kinda made a thermos flask

[@ForwardEngineering]

the kid banging his head killed me lol

[@PatriotNerdDad]

Where’s the Tobbagen link?

[@AdamRosenberg_fatfrog]

Can you make a t-shirt of your Caution sign exactly like it is? I would buy that immediately.

[@smolboyi]

lol that epic helper

[@sammitchell3748]

Good Video... BUT... whats with the musak?.... it would have been so much better without the intrusive racket....

[@bradrodgers4308]

Have you ever tried to bend TimberTech pvc decking with this/steam box?

[@jennessalynam7682]

Wow! You have another child? 😄 How many kids do you have? 🤔 Or is this an older video that you're just now sharing? Great video thanks

[@WyldeWoodworks]

Its mostly old footage. I have a 4yo and 10yo. Ive learned a ton since I first built it

[@jennessalynam7682]

@@WyldeWoodworks Oh ok I was wondering. I knew about your two girls. Just thought maybe you had another that you were hiding till now lol Thank you for the clarification and again thank you for sharing your experience and advice. Love watching your videos. I don't miss a single one or any of your shorts either.

[@WyldeWoodworks]

@@jennessalynam7682 Awe thank you so much!😁

[@bryanfain8308]

Have you ever bent 2x4s?

[@WyldeWoodworks]

@@bryanfain8308 I have but 2x4s aren't ideal to bend. The more dry they are the more they'll break. And since they're thicker material they're also more likely to break

[@drewjohnson4673]

Heat “conducts” through the walls!!!

[@beastlybombers]

Love it. Thank you. Keep it coming brother

[@fishhuntadventure]

4:33 but then you need electricity

[@kozmo6707]

This set up does. But you should know how to make steam without electricity

[@adamconnor1898]

Wrong kind of steam box. I was looking for SteamOS.

[@5k37ch0]

And I was looking for this and kept finding steam os lmao

[@trolleyproblem7195]

Cool stuff. I mean hot. I mean good. Anyway... A really useful and little-known video on wood bending is kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6GzfIidpdNjeas. "Top 10 reasons steam bending fails" is a glass half empty way of saying "top ten tips to make it work". He's a thirty-years-experience-bending-wood kind of guy, so well worth a listen.