what's the best / easiest wood to bend?

I've used a steam box to bend some "decorative" trim pieces on the Eastport Pram, and have had success.  I'm looking to make a pretty severe bend and the sapele wood strips I have don't seem to be bending that much (before cracking first).  Anyone know best/easiest wood to bend?  I've read maybe oak or mahogany, and especially green (freshly cut) oak or mahogany.


5 replies:

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RE: what's the best / easiest wood to bend?

Ash bends well, especially when steamed. Just about any wood will bend if you cut it thin enough and laminate it.

RE: what's the best / easiest wood to bend?

Ash is the best for bending, Oak only if you use White Oak, not Red.  And if you dont want to steam it, a heat gun also works well to bend wood.

RE: what's the best / easiest wood to bend?

thanks for replies - i will defintely try the heat gun (maybe both steaming and heat gun) as I have a pretty tight bend to make.  i also read that walnut has very good bending properties, so i bought a piece of that.  if walnut doesn't work, i'll definitely try the ash.  thanks again. 

RE: what's the best / easiest wood to bend?

fyi, ash definitely bent better / easier than walnut......  thanks again for the advice.

RE: what's the best / easiest wood to bend?

I have bent oak and it works really well.

According to popular wisdom oak is not a very good wood for epoxy coating, but Iain Oughtred claims it is just fine if properly roughed up. 

I understand that Ash is often bent.

Christine

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