Steam Bending  Roof Hoops January 2010

The need to replace the curved roof supports for Auto 169 has been one of the areas that have given us much foor for thought

since originally discovering their poor condition when we dismantled the first sections of the carriage. It is the one area that none

 of those involved had had any experience of so over the last year we have tried to research the methods performing such work

 and have at last reached the trial stage. We have decided that we will use a 4 layer laminate construction of Ash and to try our

hand we have produced a metal former replicating one half of the requirement which included the tightest curve of the roof shape

 in the area imediately above the cant rail. Below are some of the images taken on Saturday 30th January during our first attempt.

John Castle and Tony Brooks preparing the former	The former ready to receive the steamed timber

Timber clamped in place	Another view showing the many clamps required
A piece of 125mm by 14 mm Oak for use as a gluing support	The first results with original (darker wood)below

We are very pleased with the first results and will check for the amount of 'springing' of the timber once we have allowed

the steamed timber to dry and then glued it. We may neet to make some small adjustments to the curve to allow for the spreading.