US Brig Syren by Heronguy - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64

[Heronguy]

It's just the basswood that came in the kit.  I sometime just soak for a very short time and then work on it with the plank bender.  In this case i've also tried long soaks before plank bender.  I think I'm just pushing it a bit too fast as I end up with creases the tight bend.  Also if I try to clamp the piece while it is soaked my spring clamps tend to dent the piece.  

 

I think your advice to go slow - more than I short soak and bending session is my next attempt.  

Edited January 26, 2018 by Heronguy

[knightyo]

Hi Doug,

 

If you are going to paint the cap rail, it can be done in multiple pieces.  I think mine is comprised of at least 5 pieces.  Once it's painted/sanded/painted/sanded/painted again, no one will ever know it wasn't one piece.  I think I even used a little filler on one of the joints on mine as well.

 

Alan

[Heronguy]

I will be painting the cap rail so that sounds like a good solution.  Still it frustrates me a bit that I keep creasing the bends.  I want to slow down and see if I can do it better.

[Heronguy]

Thanks Dirk.  @donrobinson was recently mentioning how well the beech on his Stefano took to bending.  Your suggestion is appreciated.  I don't have any beech but I'll try to track some down locally.  

[Heronguy]

1 hour ago, Dubz said:

I suggest getting a strip of bending beech wood. You will easily achive perfect results!

 

cheers,

 

Dirk

Just wondering if you had tried out swiss pear and whether it bends well.  I do have some of it here that I can mill to size if it would work well.

[Heronguy]

Thanks for the clarification Dirk.  

[Jim Rogers]

Build a form out of ply, attach one end with a clamp and then apply steam slowly bend and clamp as you go. Works every time even for lateral bends

[Heronguy]

Thanks Jim. I can try that approach. I’ve never tried steam bending as opposed to planking iron (which I suppose comes down to internal steam bending). We even have a small steam cleaner out in the dairy somewhere!

[Peter Bloemendaal]

Hi Doug, 

Not sure if this is helpful but I cut a length, put it in a saucepan and put it on the boil for about a 30 seconds. Then I took it into the shed, got the strip out of the water and slowly rolled it with my thumb over both edges. It broke on the first attempt  because I went too quick but managed to keep it together on my second go.

Peter.

[Heronguy]

Thanks Peter.  I spent time today experimenting with the wood I had around here (no bending beech to try out though).

 

I certainly got some better results today using the brief soak and planking iron with SLOW bending - not too slow though as each of these took 2 or 3 minutes

 

The wood in order from the top of the photos are Swiss pear, jatoba, basswood, walnut and cherry.  After bending I clamped them together (hence the variation in size) and left them for a a couple of hours except for the Swiss pear.

 

 

The Swiss pear I clamped to the stern of the Syren and let it sit for a few hours before taking it off for the photos

 

 

I expect the Swiss pear will end up being my stern rail cap.

 

[donrobinson]

Looks good Doug. I too would have thought the swiss pear was going to be the hardest to shape.

[Heronguy]

Your recent posting in @mikiek's Trajta log was quite timely - where I clamped the pear I have some small indentations.  Following your method I'll do a slight soak/steam to see if the dents will pop up before I have to do any sanding.  Thanks!

Edited January 28, 2018 by Heronguy

[donrobinson]

Keep practising the bending, you will need it when it comes to the waterway or "covering board" on the Stefano. It only involves bending a 1.5 x 7 mm board laterally almost 90 degrees at the stern!!! Check it out. I'm thinking I'll start soaking the board now and wait for you to catch up then see how you tackle this.

Have a Good One

Edited January 28, 2018 by donrobinson

[Heronguy]

I finally decided to attach the stern cap rail and fashion pieces.  This has been a difficult step for me and the results are OK but not completely to my satisfaction.

 

[David Lester]

I think that looks pretty good, Doug. I wouldn't be too hard on myself. Those hard bits often seem to come out of nowhere when we least expect them, don't they.

David 

[Peter Bloemendaal]

Looks good Doug.

Peter

[svein erik]

Hi doug 

 

Am using a cemacales call salmiakk its norwegian but maby there is something in the store thats works 

its used to get stains, grees etc of cloths etc and its wery good cleaning Windows. 

Take a strake of wood /hardwood an droppe it in the bottel, 

dont forgett to sealer the opening,  it smells strong in the nose😷

5-10 minutts  you kan use the Iron and form it with good resut 

 

Svein.erik

 

 

 

[kscadman]

Great job bending the cap rail. Its a very hard thing to do. Very nice result

 

Richard

[Heronguy]

Thanks for the encouragement David, Peter and Richard. 

 

Erik - I wonder how you found out this works?  A Thomas Edison approach?

[svein erik]

Hi doug 

 

Hehe, wel no , I yust tryd it a wile ago and it work

This stuff loosen the fibre in the wood special hard wood so it can be bendt  ether way,

I May have to get a photo of it😊

 

Svein. Erik

 

 

 

 

 

[Heronguy]

Since the last post I've planked and painted the inner bulwarks and planked the deck.