[Public-List] Touch Wood update

[Stephan Andree]

Hello,

thanks for sharing this experience - I am curious, how long is the plastic
pipe steamer approximately that you were using ?

thanks, Stephan

On Sun, Jan 24, 2010 at 7:28 PM, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:

> Good day friends,
>
> Saturday I helped a friend who is restoring a 5.5 Meter Class yacht steam
> in four ribs; the project was of particular interest to me since her ribs
> have the same dimensions as TW's.    The steam bending of the 22 ribs TW
> needs has been the one thing I have never done before and doing it looked
> like a job I just couldn't get my arms around.  I had been seriously
> considering laminating new ribs in place in order not to have to bend
> traditionaly.
>
> Doing four ribs took 15 minutes.
>
> I am not kidding.  White oak becomes incredibly pliable after about 40
> minutes of steaming and we had about 30 seconds with each before they cooled
> and began getting stiff.  I was totally amazed.   I was also amazed at the
> lack of mystique in the steaming process.   I have books and magazine
> articles here that run thousands of words on the 'proper' way to make a
> steam box... the importance of insulating it, additives to the water in the
> boiler, etc etc.
>
> We took a 3" dia piece of plastic plumbing and glued a cap on one end; we
> drove a nail into it then ripped it out to make a small hole.  We took the
> cap for the other end and glued a 1/2" hose barb onto it.  We ran the 1/2
> vinyl hose into a second hand electric kettle and stuffed a rag around the
> spout.
>
> We milled appropriate lengths of white oak rib stock and put them into the
> tube, numbering them with pencil so we could tell which was which (they were
> destined for differing parts of the boat)  Then we sat in the boat telling
> sailing stories for a while, occasionally adding water to the kettle.
>
> After almost an hour, we pulled the first one out and with gloves on
> carried it into the boat.  The guy inside pushed each rib butt against the
> keel then pushed the rib against the hull; imagine the wine-glass shape of
> the hull as it turns down into bilge... With one foot holding the rib
> against the planking and a hand holding the upper part against the hull, the
> other guy drills pilot holes through the existing holes in the planks and
> into the rib.  This is followed by bronze screws.  Presto - new rib in about
> as much time it took to write this.  I had my camera in my pocket to take
> pictures of the process but it was over so quickly I missed it. (well not
> really missed it - I was doing it but you know what I mean)
>
> We broke two while bending them... I had heard of this but was amazed that
> the breaks are not the dangerous oak snaps that I expected.  It happens when
> the rib is pushed over into the curve and a line of grain just lets go and
> gently and smoothly separates from the rest.  We quickly discarded the
> 'broken' one and whipped in a new one each time.
>
> The bending only takes a few pounds of force - crazy.  Once they are
> cooled, the ribs are rock solid like they were grown that way. (not really
> quite as strong as grown frames, but nearly)
>
> I am so relieved.  That was in my mind the toughest part of TW's return to
> health.  Here's hoping the other challenges fall the same way!
>
> Gord
> #426 Surprise F 16 Touch Wood
>
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