The Ford Barn

Ken B · 01-13-2013, 11:18 AM

I am hoping to be able to build a C-Cab delivery body like the one in the attached pictures. Is it better to use a steam box to bend the pieces of wood in a jig or just cut the curves on a band saw leaving open end grains in the wood?

Tom Wesenberg · 01-13-2013, 11:32 AM

I would steam the wood and let it dry in a jig.

Maclab58 · 01-13-2013, 11:37 AM

Make a steam box. You will have less trouble with the wood splitting over time. Not to mention less waste of materials.

Ken B · 01-13-2013, 09:39 PM

Thanks for the replies. What kind of wood is preferred for a body like this? Is oak better than ash?

Vic in E-TN · 01-13-2013, 10:09 PM

If you steam Oak it will turn black.
Vic

pat in Santa Cruz · 01-14-2013, 12:55 AM

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ash was the preferred wood for auto and truck body frames. It is strong and flexible. Ash was at one time cheap and plentiful as well. Oak was sometimes used during shortages of ash.

A simple steam cabinet can be made from a 4 inch PVC pipe. Cap the ends with reducer bushings and pipe the steam in through a smaller pipe.

Mike V. Florida · 01-14-2013, 01:57 AM

This is a 2" copper tube in which water is boiling in while having the wood inside.

01-13-2013, 11:32 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: C-Cab body I would steam the wood and let it dry in a jig.

01-13-2013, 11:37 AM	#3
Maclab58 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 983	Re: C-Cab body Make a steam box. You will have less trouble with the wood splitting over time. Not to mention less waste of materials.

01-13-2013, 09:39 PM	#4
Ken B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plover, WI Posts: 261	Re: C-Cab body Thanks for the replies. What kind of wood is preferred for a body like this? Is oak better than ash?

01-13-2013, 10:09 PM	#5
Vic in E-TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 491	Re: C-Cab body If you steam Oak it will turn black. Vic

01-14-2013, 12:55 AM	#6
pat in Santa Cruz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: santa cruz, calif Posts: 2,011	Re: C-Cab body Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) ash was the preferred wood for auto and truck body frames. It is strong and flexible. Ash was at one time cheap and plentiful as well. Oak was sometimes used during shortages of ash. A simple steam cabinet can be made from a 4 inch PVC pipe. Cap the ends with reducer bushings and pipe the steam in through a smaller pipe.

01-14-2013, 01:57 AM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: C-Cab body This is a 2" copper tube in which water is boiling in while having the wood inside. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II