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How to Boil Wood to Bend

Kenneth Coppens

Wood bending is a craft that dates back even to primitive tribal civilizations, especially for snow shoes in regions with heavy snowfall. Today, wood bending is often used in manufacturing wooden instruments and home decor. To successfully bend wood without it breaking, the moisture level must be increased.

Wood bending is useful for many projects.

One of many ways -- and perhaps one of the easiest -- to increase moisture in wood is to boil it. This can be done without the need for special equipment.

Warning

Always wear gloves, safety goggles and a mask when working with wood.

  1. Fill a large pot with water. The pot must be large enough to hold the entire piece of wood. Any other container can be used as long as it can withstand high heat.

  2. Submerge the wood in the pot. Put a lid on top of the pot.

  3. Put the pot on the stove at high heat. Allow the wood to boil for 30 minutes for every 1/2 inch of wood thickness.

  4. Remove the wood from the water and bend it according to your needs. Wear thick leather gloves when handling the hot wood.

The Drip Cap

  • Wood bending is a craft that dates back even to primitive tribal civilizations, especially for snow shoes in regions with heavy snowfall.
  • Put a lid on top of the pot.
  • Remove the wood from the water and bend it according to your needs.