Plank bending tool

Hi;

       Believe it or not! I don't use one, or haven't on Clients projects. I use a Wire and Tube bending tool and lots of boiling water. Some planks need a twist fore or aft and I found a regular plank bender didn't do it for me. This allows me to slowly achieve the bends needed without the aggravating splintering of the grain afterward. In turn this then requires less sanding!

      Don't laugh, Certain older Boat and Auto styles require some tight bends! I got the bug when I bought Monogram's Boat-Tail Packard years ago. I had seen one in a Transportation  Museum with a Wood rather than Metal Body and I was hooked! I have even created as gifts, Town cars with Wood Bodies and Fenders. All with the right curves of course!

I went ahead and ordered the tool. At this point I do not have a need to use it, however, since it is in my plants to continue to build sailing vessels, I know I will be using it.

Once I use it, I will write a "user report" with my experience with it.

Joe

Hi Joe!

     The tool can be used for many things besides ship planks. I created some curved strands of Bamboo for my late wife to use in D.I.Y. Lampshades. I use mine and the homemade one for creating curves in wood for Planes too!

I had the oportunity to use my new plank bending tool. I found it to do the job and makes the bending of the plank easier, but, there is a learning curve with it, if you press to hard or attent to bend it before the plank is fully wet ( you have to wet the plank for at least 5 minutes) then you are risking for the plank to break on you.

Some one with the proper tools, can manufacture this tool, I had an older sordering iron  but the end has a very pointed end, and this point made it very deficult to bend the plank and easy to break, what makes this tool work is the rounded end, I do not have the proper tools to make such rounded end, so to me, it was worth to pay the 40 bucks I paid for it.

Besides this I fully recomend it.

Joe

Hello!

I have been using the plank bending tool in the construction of my current build, Columbus Santa Maria, I find this tool indispensable, it makes the bending of the planks to the exact bend very easy (That is as soon as you master the tool, like I said in my previous comment, there is a small learning curve with it ).

This has increase the speed of the build and has helped me learn more about the technique involve in installing the planks, I highly recommend it.

Joe