THE SECRETS OF WHEELWRIGHTING – TIMBER BENDING

by M.C. Hendrickson
Softcover
215 x 295mm
82pp

Published by M.C. & P. Hendrikson, Kariong NSW, Australia

ISBN 978-064654082-5

As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 160

Many readers will have met the author of Timber Bending. It is one of The Secrets of Wheelwrighting series written by Mike Hendrikson who for several years fascinated visitors to Timber & Working with Wood Shows as he demonstrated the traditional crafts involved in making wooden carriage wheels.

Browsing through the book, it’s almost possible to hear Mike’s voice, as if he was sitting there, surrounded by bits of wood and old machinery, chatting to us about his craft.
The grammar is a bit shaky at times, the way it often is when we talk to old friends. A few of the words are misspelled, too – ridged instead of rigid, harris instead of arris – but none of that seems to matter.

The important thing is that Mike has something to say and he sets about it quietly and methodically, making sure we understand each topic before going on to the next.
There are diversions, of course, when he tells us about this or that particular business and what they used to do, or how and where he was able to obtain a certain piece of machinery. But through it all, he keeps on track, providing us with both a history of how things were done (and why) as well as the information necessary to actually bend timber for a project, whether it be the back of a bentwood chair or a hood bow for an antique car.

The book starts with a discussion about the kinds of wood (not just the species) that are best suited to bending. The next topic is Wood Cell Softening and that’s followed by the basics of bending, before Mike plunges into teaching us about Spring Back and Setting.

After that, there are notes on a wide variety of subjects – from Legs, Curved Forms and Bending without Straps, to Straps, Stops and Handles …

There’s a longish section on Hand Bending without Straps which has photos and diagrams to demonstrate the procedure. There are instructions on how to bend a semi-circle and on marking out and making Sweeps and there’s advice on handling buckling problems.

Finally, there is mention of ‘coffin bending’ and ‘laminated bending’ and a few comments on plywood and veneer.

Altogether, this is a practical book, written by a craftsman with a comprehensive knowledge of timber bending and a passion for seeing the old ways preserved. No doubt it will find readers whose interests lie in either or both these pursuits.

Photos: Black & White

Contents:

Introduction
Wood
Moisture content
The trick
Wood cell softening
Spring back and setting
Hot setting
How far to bend the wood around the form
Legs
Forms
Bending without straps
Straps, Stops & Handles
Hand bending with straps From one end
Bending from both ends
Planning to bend a semi circle
Sweeps
Buckling problems
Hood bows
Fixtures & Jigs or Hand machine bending
Bending machines
Coffin bending
Plywood and Veneer
Laminated bending
Conclusion