I want to bend some 5/8"x7/8" walnut strip into a 8" radius quarter circle.
I got some fresh walnut and milled it to size, as I read that kiln dried won't bend.
I made a steaming box out of 1.5" pvc pipe, with dowels to keep the wood out of the condensate on the bottom.
I used a wall paper stripper for steam; it worked pretty well as steam came out the condensate drain on the far side of the steam box.
I steamed my first piece for an hour. As soon I bent it, it cracked. i figured I was too slow, so I practiced so I could do it instantly; and steamed for 90 minutes.
Second piece cracked immediately also.
It was much easier to crack than unsteamed wood would have been, but that doesn't help much.
The grain isn't perfect, but it is pretty straight.
Any ideas what I could be doing wrong?
I should mention that the wood came from a branch the electric company trimmed, rather than from a trunk; but can't see why that would matter.