Steam Bending Wood Strips for Canoe Build

One of the first steps in building a cedar strip canoe or kayak is to steam and bend the stems that make up the framework on the bow and stem mold. The planks that form the hull are glued to these. There are some methods of construction that do not use an internal/external stem but I like how it looks and gives the canoe a nice "finished off" look from end to end. I use 4" pvc pipe long enough to accommodate 12 strips that are 1/4" thick. (3 for the inner stem, 3 for the outer stem at both bow and stern). Steam is supplied from a tea kettle on a single burner at the bottom of the pipe. After the pieces of wood to be laminated (in this case Ash) are placed inside the steam box, I block the opening with a towel or rag and let them steam for about an hour. Moving quickly (but not TOO quickly) they can be removed in sets of 6 and bent around a plywood mold that assumes the shape of the boats bow and stern and has holes spaced around the edge with which to clamp the steamed frames.

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