Sledge making (steam bending)

[falling rain]

I wanted to have a go at making a traditional wooden sledge and was wondering if anyone has advice on steam bending wood for the front runners. I think you can buy steaming machines but I don't want to do that for 1 sledge.......and which wood is best to use?
Would apprciate any advice if anyone has experience of steam bending wood or happy to hear of any other methods - Thanks and happy (belated) New Year

 

[JAG009]

A long enough bit of pvc pipe and a old wallpaper stripper does the job a treat here is a link http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...1oDYBg&usg=AFQjCNHiA0FgRZA_GbzoT_8JAyWnzTepCw wrap your bit of wood in wet hessian sacks and place inside said device steam and bend when ready

 

[JAG009]

Ps Have a jig ready to bend your runners on ,,,a bit of ply with pegs in it will do ,,,just remember the bend will spring back a bit when dry so bend a bit more than you need

 

[grey-array]

I have seen plenty of steaming techniques, like indeed the PVC pipe method but also wrapping a beam in soaked cloth, then wrap it with aluminum foil shiny side directed towards the beam and then applied to a heat source, preferably in some open fire embers like you would do to roast some potatoesand then leave it in for just over an hour. and indeed you always need to over bend, I'd say over bend it by 10 % that should do of course this depends on your wood choice.
Hope that helps.

Yours sincerely Ruud

 

[falling rain]

Thanks gents that's a great help. Will have to get some wood and hopefully get it done within a few weeks. (am very busy at the moment) Will post a piccie when it's finished