The Steam Bending of Beech

Owing to the inherent tendency of beech to check upon drying, care is required in the handling of beech logs and lumber prior to steaming or boiling. Losses as high as 50 percent in bending beech have been reported in operations where methods adapted to the processing of birch and maple were used without modification. In principle, the most practical solution is to control drying during the preparatory period, to bring the stock virtually check-free to the lowest moisture content compatible with the degree of curvature desired. For bends of a radius of 6 to 8 inches or less for 1-inch stock, this involves drying to only 20 to 25 percent moisture content. For less severe bends, seasoning to moisture contents as low as 12 to 15 percent is suggested to minimize later difficulties during the drying of the bent stock. It is entirely possible to steam and bend green stock fresh from the log if facilities for slow, controlled drying of the bent stock are available.

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