The next step was arranging for some of the ash to be cut to my required dimensions which Rob organised and delivered . Unfortunately I was unable to meet him when he was in the area and coming from Wales it wasnt something that was easy to organise and just pop in , but I hope soon to meet up with him .I have to say the strips he supplied was some of the best I have ever had , nice straight grain and fresh and dry so did not require any pre soaking to make the wood pliable prior to steaming.
The first step was set it in my metal formers ready for routing out the central channel . I like to have a bit of maet in the wood whenever channeling out the strips for this type of net .Taking out 50% of the timber through the entire length does create a weakness so it is important that the initial frame is substantial enough to cope with this overall .
With the router set at the correct depth the strip is ready to have the channel . The metal formers and a couple of clamps help hold everything in place so a nice neat straight line is achieved .Once this procedure is achieved it is now ready for steaming .
No fancy pipework here , a simple drainpipe blocked at either end and a small pilot hole drilled in the top is enough to steam sufficiently , a bit " heath robinson " but it works!
There is a limited time for bending the ash so you have to work quickly so it is better to be prepared before it cools down . I make sure all my clamps are set to the right depth so there is no fiddling about tightening up . I use wood blocks as cushions so the actual frame work doesnt get any marks from the clamps when they are tightened up .Ash is remarkably pliable when hot and bends around the former quite easily but it is important to work fast , the most critical process is the extreme curve , once this has been succesfully bent round and secured the rest is pretty straight forward and a sense of relief that all is going to plan .
The frame is now secure on the former and will now sit like this for the next few weeks to make sure that the timber has had enough time to settle down , so for now it is a waiting game for the next process .
