Free form yew rocker with steam bent arm
bow and comb by Gudrun Leitz
All 6 and 9 day courses include a day of steam bending.
This is where prepared timber is heated in steam until it becomes
very pliable and can then be bent into all sorts of shaped components.
 
Ted pole lathing ash back posts for a spindle back chair. Gudrun
putting them into the steaming box.
 
Pulling them out after 90 minutes and then bending in the steaming
jig.
 
Clamping Heather's and Ted's posts in where they will cool so
the bend will set.
 
Heather's and Ted's finished chairs. The back posts are bent
into a gentle curve to make the chair much more comfortable than
one with a straight back.
   
Steam bending a bow. This requires a greater effort and a gentle,
sustained pressure for good results.Pegs are tapped in to hold
the curve until it cools and is set. Usually string is then tie
to the ends (like a bow!) to hold it until it is needed.
Gudrun's almost finished double bow free
form rocker with Skye
Steam bending a bow - all hands on deck!
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