Heritage Boat Restoration using Cold-Bend™ Hardwood
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Replacing ribs and installing sister ribs is a challenging activity without Cold-Bend™ Hardwood. With it, you can solve the most difficult part of replacing old ribs and other curved parts. Cold-Bend™ Hardwood can be manipulated into very tight radius curves, without heat and often by hand, or with simple clamps. Once positioned, it is dried to fix the shape, and fastened to the old rib, old planks, or new planks. The whole process is fast, and professional restorers using the technique are gaining large labor savings, and improvements in quality.
Shown above is a restoration project on a 1946 Phil Rhodes 33' sloop by James Dreyer, in San Diego, California, and a 1926 Alden 44' Staysail Schooner by Adam Henley in Port Townsend, Washington. Below you can view a restoration of a 1948 Kettenberg PCC by Archie Contreras in San Francisco.
James Dreyer describes his experience...."Today we fitted the first frames of your compressed wood into Therapy...(1946 Phil Rhodes 33). I have to say from first impressions, the product is just amazing. It was a totally stress free process & allowed us to take our time & get things fitted perfectly as opposed to the frenetic work of steam bending. The higher board foot price of the stock is totally slashed by the savings in labor. Steam bending would have taken 3 of us the better part of the day just to stay organized & keep on the boil so to speak. I guarantee there would have been breakages of either frames or planking in the process. I did the majority of the framing solo, calling for assistance occasionally to hold things in position while I clamped.
Adam Henley has this to say... "I was pleasantly surprised as the material took extreme bends without showing any signs of deformation or breaking. Stock, though fairly large took the bend very well. From my experience the wood behaved much like a steam bent frame does with the exception that stock did not need to be kerfed to take the bend and even then (steam) may have failed. It took a while to get out of the hurry up mode you usually go with during a steaming process. Plenty of working time (with compressed wood)... for days potentially. I did some minor adjustments to the frames the next day and material still moved without major issues. Stock drilled and fastened well with no sign of weakness when fastening. The screws "bit" well and felt as if they could be driven completely through the frames. The wood kept a good memory and when clamps were eased for adjustments there was little or no "spring back" . Depending on access, pre bending is the best application and is far easier than bending as you go per say. I think when the boat is opened up thoroughly this method (pre-bending) works the best. If access is tough though, material can be driven like a traditionally steamed frame but it is more difficult."
Archie Contreras says: " WOW! One person, four frames, six hours. The fact that I can do this without any help is a great relief to me." Quotes: chris.mroz@puretimber.com 1-253-988-2046
