Wet vs dry lumber toboggan sled

[COLTIMPALA]

Wondered if anyone here has built a toboggan sled. I'm planning to build one and have access to kiln dried lumber or green, fresh cut also. I plan to use steam to bend the lumber to shape. Would wet be better for this? But wouldn't green also warp and shrink later as it dries?

 

[ronn47]

Wondered if anyone here has built a toboggan sled. I'm planning to build one and have access to kiln dried lumber or green, fresh cut also. I plan to use steam to bend the lumber to shape. Would wet be better for this? But wouldn't green also warp and shrink later as it dries?

To steam bend you steam it, put it in a frame and let it dry in place.
Not sure which would be best to start with, but would think wet.

@Scsmith42

 

[COLTIMPALA]

@smi

To steam bend you steam it, put it in a frame and let it dry in place.
Not sure which would be best to start with, but would think wet.

@Scsmith42

Yep, I'm up to speed on the bending part. Just thinking of the initial material. I've read somewhere that kiln dried is liable to splinter even with steam.

 

[Scsmith42]

You do NOT want kiln dried lumber for steaming. Traditionally white oak is the lumber of choice. It can be either green or air dried but it's traditionally bent green. The steaming accelerates the drying process afterward..

KD WO WILL crack and splinter if steam bent.

Ideally you want WO heartwood w/o any defects in it. If you use air dried, select some lumber from deeper in the stack that does not show any signs of surface checking (cracks).

 

[COLTIMPALA]

You do NOT want kiln dried lumber for steaming. Traditionally white oak is the lumber of choice. It can be either green or air dried but it's traditionally bent green. The steaming accelerates the drying process afterward..

KD WO WILL crack and splinter if steam bent.

Ideally you want WO heartwood w/o any defects in it. If you use air dried, select some lumber from deeper in the stack that does not show any signs of surface checking (cracks).

Any reason to use white oak vs say hickory?

 

[Scsmith42]

White oak was traditionally used for dogsleds. It’s steam bending properties are very good, plus it is more naturally rot resistant than hickory.