Shop talk: A neat tool
by Ken Schott
Continued
Here are a couple more pics of steaming battens. Your book BOATBUILDING WITH PLYWOOD somewhere mentioned using rags wet with boiling water to form bends. This augments bending Oak as I found out.
This is the steam box in action on a batten. The part was dry fitted prior to steaming, so that it can be put in place before cooling. Applying boiling rags extends the working time. Apply pressure to the bend and allow to dry overnight.
The battens here are White Oak, and hold their shape very well after steaming.