I have been wanting to make a small shelving unit with a lip on the shelves. The shelves will be about 1' x 2', with one side cut with a 1' radius.
I was going to try my hand at steam bending the lips, but then read that kiln dried wood can't be bent, and that is all I see readily available.
Yesterday the electric company trimmed branches. I salvaged a walnut branch about 8" diameter and 33" long. I am guessing it weighs about 60 pounds. I want to cut some wood out of this to use for the shelf lip.
1) It is rather too heavy to have my wife help me put on the bandsaw, and would like to wait until my son is home in March. It will average about 30* in those two months. I have wrapped it in plastic. Will it survive 2 months that way?
2) I have milled wood before, so I am acquainted with the process, but the bending is new. At what point do I bend it? Now? When it is half dry? Fully dry?
3) I have never used branch wood, but understand it is unstable. Since I am planning on bending it anyhow, maybe that isn't a problem. Or maybe it is an even bigger problem. I don't need much wood; so I can make the pieces oversized to start with, but perhaps that just makes it worse. Any advise.
4) The last time I did this, getting the wood through the bandsaw the first time was an interesting challenge. A sled of some kind might be a good idea. Any suggestions, given the size of my log?
It will be a huge amount of work for a small amount of wood, but it will be a learning experience. Right?