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.
Cheer~~~bend (something, especially a finger as a signal).😊
Did the shape stay what wood are you using and while you are at it you can make me one if you want
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,