Before I left to go home for a visit with my family, I built a 5 foot by 6 inch by 6 inch steam box, which when hooked up to steam generation source, produces an environment which renders solid lumber bendable.
Now by referencing the Googles, I determined that the rule of thumb is that for every inch in thickness of wood requires an hour in the steam box to make it pliable. After three separate attempts, I have to say that I must not be generating nearly enough steam as even at double the referenced times, my wood pieces are still stiff as a bat. Hmmm.
After some more research, I think that it isn’t my steam generation, but rather my box is too big and my steam hose runs are too long. I’m gonna go back to the drawing board to address these issues and then I’ll try again. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Oh yeah, the reason I built the steam box is that I need to bend some 4 foot lengths of 1” x 3” fir strips for my generation 7 swing chair. Ok, I guess need is a stretch, but now that we are back in the house, I’ve set up the curve mold I built two years ago (and store here in the garage – thanks Ron) when I started work on the first designs of my hanging swing chair. It took me five attempts to produce a finished project and after analyzing number 5, I built generation 6 for use.
After two seasons with gen 6, I have sketched out a couple of design changes that I think would look cool, but they require me to scrap the kerfing method I had been using previously as this weakens the curved part enough to require under arm supports. The new design does away with the need for a bottom arm loop as well as the under arm support, which will not only look better. but weigh about half as much as the current version.
Anyway, more than you wanted to know I’m sure.
In boating news, I am slowly crawling my way through the seemingly never ending list of projects. Right now I’m focusing on rebuilding our stove and oven as well as fabricating a number of new shelving units for the pantry. Between the summer time heat and the Woman’s World Cup, it’s slow going, but progress is being made.
Another job I checked off the list was the installation of the second cooler seat in our shared skiff. Last summer I made this really pretty pine scrap seat out of leftovers for skiff helmsman. I also made a custom cushion for it that matched the one we had on the forward cooler seating area.
It worked great for about four months and then one day after playing volleyball, I returned to the skiff to find three French-Canadian kids jumping up and down on the seat. I yelled at them and they scurried away like cock roaches when you turn the light on, but it was too late. The damage was done.
I knew the kids and more importantly, knew their parents, but when I confronted them they swore that their kids would never do such a thing despite my having three adult witnesses to the contrary. After I threatened generational extermination in retaliation, they suddenly lost the ability to speak English and disappeared back into the bush.
Anyway, on my last trip home I scored a bunch of frozen meat products that I brought back in a $29.95 Wal-Mart cooler. When I picked out said cooler, I made sure it was sturdy enough and of the proper dimensions to become the pilot seat in the skiff. Installation consisted of glassing four - 8 inch by 1 inch by 1 inch fiddles to the bottom of the skiff deck to hold the cooler in place, but still allow it to be removed to be used on beach outings. Three hours for the glass to cure and we were back in business.
As an aside, I am working on a new spray can product tentatively called “Kid-Be-Gone”. It’ll be like an insect fogger that targets people under the age of 13 and dissolves them on contact. French Canadian trials begin soon.
Ok, that’s about it. More to follow, end of line ….
P.S. – Today’s second picture is of my latest t-shirt design. I got tired of trying to explain to people who and what DARPA is, so I thought we’d reduce it to the pertinent facts. Order yours today!