Torching - anyone done it?

[CliffordPope]

Char-bending has been used since ancient times in order to soften planks for bending in shipbuilding. The plank is held over an open fire until it just begins to burn on one side, and then bent and fixed in place. I think it's also used for softening poles for weaving when making hurdles.

 

[Cubist]

Char-bending has been used since ancient times in order to soften planks for bending in shipbuilding. The plank is held over an open fire until it just begins to burn on one side, and then bent and fixed in place. I think it's also used for softening poles for weaving when making hurdles.

Now you mention it I seem to recall reading of that approach in shipbuilding and large boats. I've not come across it in anything about hurdles but definitely with barrel staves - these days though the flaming/torching is done after construction of the barrel and merely to convey flavour to the products within.

This thread had also brought to mind an occasion in the dim and distant when the First Lady took me to task after finding several lumps of wood in our kitchen stove - I'd been trying to match the colour of some pine to that of an antique but busted towel rail I wanted to restore.

 

[Flyfisher]

Char-bending has been used since ancient times in order to soften planks for bending in shipbuilding. The plank is held over an open fire until it just begins to burn on one side, and then bent and fixed in place. I think it's also used for softening poles for weaving when making hurdles.

I've heard of steam being used to soften wood but not actual charring, though I see no reason why it wouldn't work albeit with some damage to the wood.

I've used a heat gun to soften various woods for walking sticks so as to straighten them and it works very well without getting anywhere near charring them.

My understanding is that the lignin in plant cell walls (which gives wood its strength) is basically 'plastic' so that heating makes it flexible enough to bend into the required shape, then clamp it until cool again and it retains its new shape (more or less). The first time I tried it I was quite surprised how flexible the wood becomes.

 

[Cubist]

I've heard of steam being used to soften wood but not actual charring, though I see no reason why it wouldn't work albeit with some damage to the wood.

Usually my 'steaming' is restricted to that induced by the antics of some tradespeople I've encountered. That aside I have made a 'steam cabinet' out of an old plastic drain pipe to help me form the outer ring for a table top for an old bar table I acquired. First attempt worked far, far better than I could have expected. I'll keep in mind the heat gun idea for future use with smaller bits and pieces. Cheers Flyfisher.