Steam Generator
- Thread starter Hummy
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- gas heat pressure cooker steam
Mine is a modified propane tank with a hot water heater element - electric, so I can use it indoors in the winter.
Dave Osborn
LIFE MEMBER
Mine is a "pancake style" (squatty) propane tank on a garage sale propane turkey fryer.
A water pipe off the old propane tank takes steam into a length of heating duct that is wrapped with an old mattress pad.
It was the first steamer that I built and have had every intention of improving it, but after 8 years as a hobbist restorer and 8 years of professional restoration, I still use it almost exclusively. Not pretty, but it works...and was cheap and easy.
The heater duct has a cap with a hole in it for the steam to enter and is laid on horses when steaming.
It's good for a couple, of ribs or a couple of gunwale ends.
I've also built a box that is about a one foot square and 5 1/2 feet long for steaming multiple ribs.
A water pipe off the old propane tank takes steam into a length of heating duct that is wrapped with an old mattress pad.
It was the first steamer that I built and have had every intention of improving it, but after 8 years as a hobbist restorer and 8 years of professional restoration, I still use it almost exclusively. Not pretty, but it works...and was cheap and easy.
The heater duct has a cap with a hole in it for the steam to enter and is laid on horses when steaming.
It's good for a couple, of ribs or a couple of gunwale ends.
I've also built a box that is about a one foot square and 5 1/2 feet long for steaming multiple ribs.
I suppose the ideal steam generating system depends on how much one intends to use it. As a "back yard" builder I started out using the propane tank, turkey cooker, radiator pipe system. I noticed that Rockler was offering an electrically powered steam generator in the $50 range that can be used inside. I purchased one of these (a couple bucks cheaper on Amazon) and really pleased with it. It hold about a gallon and a half of water, enough for 1-1/2 to 2 hours of steaming (if you fill it warm water it takes about twenty minutes to generate a strong head of steam. The device come with a 10" +/- flexible tubing that you can run to the the steam box or where ever it may be needed. The steam generator is one of the best items I have purchased in a long time. Howard Davis/Caanoetrip
Craig Johnson
Lifetime member
Here is a link to a post about mine. Sounds like what you are talking about.
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?8314-ultimate-steam-chamber
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?8314-ultimate-steam-chamber
Dan Lindberg
Ex Wood Hoarder
I started with a Coleman camp stove for heat and kept running out of gas, so my current rig is:
LP "turkey" burner, (fed by 20lb tank), 5 gal recycled metal gas can on burner, 3" fitting attached to top of gas can, 3" plastic pipe straight up about 18" to a 12"x12" x 5" cedar box. The box can hold up to 8 -10 ribs at a time. The box is on legs so it's easy to set on or off the steam pipe. Works great.
The best system I've seen was at Stewart River canoe shop. Alex uses a std elec (?) water heater to generate steam, hard plumbed so refilling is easy, just turn the valve on and watch the site glass, the steam is then sent to either a box for ribs or tube(?) for rails.
Dan
LP "turkey" burner, (fed by 20lb tank), 5 gal recycled metal gas can on burner, 3" fitting attached to top of gas can, 3" plastic pipe straight up about 18" to a 12"x12" x 5" cedar box. The box can hold up to 8 -10 ribs at a time. The box is on legs so it's easy to set on or off the steam pipe. Works great.
The best system I've seen was at Stewart River canoe shop. Alex uses a std elec (?) water heater to generate steam, hard plumbed so refilling is easy, just turn the valve on and watch the site glass, the steam is then sent to either a box for ribs or tube(?) for rails.
Dan
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
Hummy --
Check your private messages.
Greg
Check your private messages.
Greg
Andre Cloutier
Firestarter. Wicked Firestarter.
Grandlaker
Builder & Restorer
I just unhook my worm and thump tank from the still and pipe it into a box. Make sure you clean out the mash from the last batch. 
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
Best method yet!I just unhook my worm and thump tank from the still and pipe it into a box. Make sure you clean out the mash from the last batch.
View attachment 31033
Greg
ginkgo-canoe
Canoeist Andrey
Hello!
For small workshop this machine can be enough - Wagner W14. You need just 4.5 minutes to make ash-ribs ready and near 8 min for the stems. Works well for us - small, easy-to-use, has a water-off protection. After 2 canoes still works like new. I've got it in Germany, but I'm sure that You can find something like this in US.
have a luck!
For small workshop this machine can be enough - Wagner W14. You need just 4.5 minutes to make ash-ribs ready and near 8 min for the stems. Works well for us - small, easy-to-use, has a water-off protection. After 2 canoes still works like new. I've got it in Germany, but I'm sure that You can find something like this in US.
have a luck!
Andre Cloutier
Firestarter. Wicked Firestarter.
8 minute stems? I'd pay to see that.
ginkgo-canoe
Canoeist Andrey
oh sorry )) we keep them in water 2 days before bending them
and how much time do You keep them in steam machine, Andre?
and how much time do You keep them in steam machine, Andre?
Andre Cloutier
Firestarter. Wicked Firestarter.
190 degrees at an hour for a 1x2 of white ash is enough after soaking, havent had failures or much springback. Cant see how you could get it bending easily after only 8 minutes, maybe the wood is different over there.
ginkgo-canoe
Canoeist Andrey
Andre Cloutier
Firestarter. Wicked Firestarter.
Glad it worked for you! As important as any of the steps is to find and use air dried lumber rather than kiln dried, and of course the soaking helps as well. You could glue up laminated stems if you dont have suitable stock but thats not much fun! Where did you get Gerrish plans, and do you have any photos of the boats you've built so far?
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