Rockler 42826 Manual

Steam Box Plan
Steam Box Components
A Top/Bottom
B Sides
C Rear Cap
D Door
E Gasket/Seal
F Support Dowels
G Feet
H Thermometer
CAUTION:
Burn Hazard. Steam, dripping water, and
heated workpieces are hot. Keep hands and face away
from steam box when opening. Use protective gloves
when handling the steam box and steamed workpieces.
Read and understand all safety information and
instructions that come with the steam generator.
Introduction
Low pressure steam is an age-old method of
softening wooden components for bending
them into curved shapes. The heat and high
moisture soften the fi bers of the wood,
allowing it to bend in the shape of a press or
form. As the wood cools, it retains the shape
that it was formed into with only minor
spring-back. The key elements for steam
bending are a shaped form, a steam source,
and an enclosed steam box. This Rockler
portable steam generator and hardware necessary to construct a
steam box using your wood. (See "Kit Contents" above.)
Steam Box Construction
Your steam box should be as small as possible while still
accommodating all of your workpieces. The smaller the box, the
less steam energy it takes to bring it to temperature and keep it
there. The box should also have a fl ow-through design so that
steam enters at one end and exits at the other end, but is relatively
tight so that most of the steam and heat remain within the box.
Here are some tips for constructing a steam box:
General
• The box can be constructed from either solid wood or
plywood (exterior grade preferred).
• The box should be sloped upward slightly on a set of
legs so that condensed water runs to the back, but
also so the steam fl ows toward the front.
• Assembling the box using simple butt-joints with
screws (without glue) will allow you to disassemble
the box and reuse some parts for making
other sizes.
Kit Contents
1 Steam Generator
2 Steam Hose
3 Brass Fitting
4 Hinges
5 Latch/Clasp
D
steam kit contains the
®
A
H
4
E
5b
G
Steam and Support
• Drill a 9/16" hole in the center of the Rear Cap to install the
brass steam fi tting.
• For maximum cross-fl ow of the steam while maintaining good
steam capacity, build the box as tight as possible, and drill a
small vent hole in the lower face of the front door.
• A meat thermometer can be used to monitor the internal
box temperature
• Dowels are used to elevate the workpiece off the bottom of
the box.
• Heat rises, so the workpiece should be elevated to be near the
top of the box.
Thermometer Hole
Condensate
Drip Hole
Vent Hole
1
C
5a
2
3
F
B