Bending Chair Backs

My latest commission for two Danish chairs required me to bend air dried walnut for the chair backs.  The 2" x 4" x 36" pieces of walnut were steamed for 2 hours and then bent to shape around a plywood form in a matter of minutes.  The pictures below outline the bending process.

Bending equipment at the ready, waiting for the wood

Wood hot out of the steamer and clamped to the form, ready to be bent

A "Come-Along" pulling the wood around the form

Switching to the second "Come-Along" to complete the bend

In a matter of minutes the bend is complete

 

 

10 days later the wood is dry and ready to be shaped