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Steam bending is a process of using steam to soften up the lignin that binds the wood fibers together so that those fibers can slide apart or together. Generally bends are done against a form and held in place until the bend sets. Tight bends require a "compression strap". On the outside of the bend the fibers will want to spread apart, and likely will spring apart and the bend will fail or break there. The compression strap will force the fibers on the outside of the bend to stay in place, and the fibers on the inside of the bend to slide together, or compress. Place your hands together with your fingers alternated and between each other. You can slide your fingers in and out to represent the wood fibers. On the outside of the bend, you don't want your fingers pulling apart, on the inside of the bend, you want your fingers to slide together toward your knuckles if that makes an sense. Some woods steam bend easier than others. Red and white oaks are good steam-bending woods.

It was cool but not cold. We did have to work fast. I also have better results with a full length compression strap that I use now.

Hope I could get some advice from you. Have you any sugestions for bending fresh 1.5 in diameter oak for a cane? Skin on? Skin off? Dry first? Hope to hear from you!

Last bands I made were 8 mil in thickness. Only regret was not using galvanized stock, the bands left dark stains on the red oak. Not a big concern as the wood was worked with draw knife, spoke shave and card scraper after bending, leaving no marks from the strap.

I dont sell them, it was a special request, sorry!

Located in central PA

@@wsflather it is what it is most hooks I've seen were dective not working and I'm going to be getting Goats and sheep soon so wanted one for them from the start to help me when I work them thanks for the reply

@@mystylangston4803 Check Tractor Supply, I believe they sell them.

@@wsflather yes but the opening is small and thay are not that sturdy I have looked at them it's fine. I do woodwork but have not done any steaming and bending so most likely I will keep looking till go time and then have a few Goes at making my own but thanks for the tip

It might be, and I have wondered the same thing. If i try this again I'll round them off first.

These were more successful because I used a full-length compression strap instead of a partial-length one The bend wanted to slowly straighten out until I sat them by our oil furnace for a day. That seemed to "set" the bend. Since then I have seen an article in which the author mentioned "setting" the bend using a low-temperature oven heated with a 100 watt incandescent bulb. In fact, I bound the two I made this day tighter than the form expecting some spring back. After sitting a day by the furnace they didn't spring back at all, so I'm going to to douse them in some boiling water to get them to open a bit. The wood is red-oak. It was still quite damp and fresh from the mill. rough cut to about 1 1/4" x 1 1/4", I carefully ripped them down to 7/8" x 7/8" and oriented the grain so they were quarter sawn. White oak is also be an excellent wood for steam bending. Please be aware that it was only after i created the forms for these that I managed find references to crooks that indicated actual, working shepherds crooks as having a smaller diameter bend; about 6". These are closer to 9" diameter. Good enough for a stage prop. I'm not likely to try this again until warmer weather.

BTW, you can order crooks from Tractor Supply. They say they are made in Texas. www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/shepherds%20crooks

@@wsflather,

It worked better than the first attempt, but was still prone to splitting out on the outside of the curve. Next try I used compression straps as long as the wood stock. I think the straps were 53" long. That was much more successful, but there was still some minor separation on the two small spots with the reverse curve on the inside that had no compression strap on them. Not sure how to tackle that. still, as stage props they will work fine. Actual, functional shepherds crooks have a smaller diameter bend.