This is a reposting of an old post on mine on installing stembands. Call it “the Complete Idiots Guide to installing stem bands,” because its geared to those who’ve never done it before and are likely to make a lot of mistakes (like me).
The only time I had trouble installing stem bands was when I pre-drilled the holes before I bent the stem band. At the first curve the stem band broke at a hole.
What I’ve done since is to pre-drill only 3-4 holes at the end of the stem band on the bottom of the canoe. Then, with the stem band attached with screws at these 3-4 holes, bend the rest of the stem band. Then I’ve detached the stem band and drilled the remainder of the holes at the work bench. This two step process also makes it easier to work with the bedding compound. Do a dry fit without the bedding compound. Then your next step, after you’ve all your holes drilled, is to put the stem band on with the bedding compound.
(Someone else contributed the suggestion that you should first use steel screws—rather than the brass ones—in case you hit tacks. This is a great idea and I wish I’d thought of it. Hit a copper tack with your brass screws and you’re really messed up.)
Also consider this. While many makers did install the stem band so that it bent at 90 degrees over the deck, I don’t think this is really necessary and, in fact, clutters up the deck. Consider bringing the stem band just up to the underside of the inwales, where they extend past the deck, instead of bending it back over the deck. (Some like the band over the deck because they say it protects the deck, especially, if, when you’re portaging, you like to rest one tip of the canoe up in a tree branch or something. I never do this, so, it doesn’t help me.)
Also if you haven’t much experience working with metal (I don’t), I suggest you make a couple of test drills on a short piece of stem band, to make sure you have the right bits for the hole and countersink. Unlike drilling in wood (at least with my bits) once you have one diameter hole, you’re pretty much stuck with it.
I was just working with a simple hand held drill (not a drill press), so I made a simple drilling jig to drill the holes accurately. As I recall it consisted of about a ¾ inch piece of pine, about 3 x 5 inches. In the exact center of the pine I drilled a hole the size I wanted. Then on the underside I glued two thin strips of wood, which were just as wide as the stem band, to make a channel that the stem band fit into. I clamped the jig onto the work bench and then slid the stem band into the channel. This I found the best way to lock the stem band in place while I drilled the holes.