Woodworkers' Association of NSW Inc.
David Eden is hosting a very interesting workshop visit, please note the RSVP at the end for catering purposes:
INVITATION to STEAM BENDING on SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2009, 10.30am
at GEORGE EDEN's WORKSHOP in the bush with a museum of veteran cars
2035 Burragorang Road OAKDALE NSW 2570 Telephone 4659 6312.
George Eden is restoring a 1908 Clement Talbot 2 cylinder petrol engined car. Its wheels have fallen off (and it also has a damaged gearbox). To restore the car with historical accuracy, George wants to end up with steam bent wooden wheels identical to the wheels of the time.
This is a "hands on" workshop visit. We have a steam box, boilers and enough wood for attempts all day. Woodworkers willing to share their experience can have a go. People who understand why wood behaves the way it does can help and test their ideas.
Bending wood using steam was once common, but now the technique seems to be more talked about than used. The tyres are pneumatic on a steel rim. The workshop exercise is to bend a "felloe" which is the timber circle holding the wooden spokes just inside the steel rim. The local timber is Spotted Gum, selected because of its high strength. We hope to show how to bend 25 mm thick hardwood around a 300 mm radius into a half circle. Since David Eden's "show and tell" at our February meeting, George has made the bending form stronger and easier to use with a long lever. It has a central pivot and a roller to quickly bend the hot wood around the form.
Many early Australian cars used imported engines and locally made bodies, sometimes to satisfy particular customers. Of interest will be the car's "Roi de Belge" timber seats coopered from Australian blackwood.
There will be time to have a look at the other veteran and vintage cars including a 1911/12 Baker electric that runs on lead acid batteries. This car will interest ladies because it is quiet, is driven from the back seat, has an electric bell instead of a horn and doesn't go far.
George will provide a barbecue and drinks. His rural retreat is surrounded by Nattai State Conservation Area. It is an ideal location for native wildlife and a pleasant spot for lunch so bring your family too.
Camden is an hour south west from Sydney. At the southern end of the Camden Bypass, turn west (right) into Burragorang Road to Oakdale, a pleasant further 20 km west. Keep going west through Oakdale. 5 km past the school (towards Burragorang Lookout) you'll see a white sign "EDEN 2035" on the left. You will have arrived. If you have driven too quickly, go on through Nattai to the Lookout for the view.
Please phone George on 4659 6312 or David on 4659 6689 before 18 February for catering numbers. We look forward to your company and an enjoyable day.
David's email is: davidandmalle@yahoo.com in the unlikely event he hasn't supplied sufficient information.