Wood Bending

In au aeocrantof the-wood bending industry a wriier in The Woodworker remarks tbat compáiatively few porsons outside the carriage and boat building interesis are avrare of its extent, and but few realize that the carriages they ride in are vrry largely made of such wood- the fellies of all their wheels are beut and made in two parts - the framework of cuaches and heavy carriages Í3 nearly uil made of bent stock, and not on]y better made, but more cheaply, and the frames of pleasure boats ar9 bent, as also many of the frames of the finest sailing yachts. Fnrnitnre, too, of many kinds, has bent frames, all the celebrated Thonet chairs, for esample, bei:ig made entirely of wood thns treated. The object of bending is twofold - namely, saving of time and stock and stability and strength of the work when put together - this independent of beauty of form, and bent carriage shafts are alrnost, if not entirely, used now, instead of the old style, clumsy, sawed ones. Skill in manipnlaticg the material is very essential. Simply the forms to bend on and the steam box in ■which to soften the wood do not alune insnre success in the operation - it is uecessary to know perfectly the stock to bend, it being so variable that no two pieces bend alike.