quote:


Steam bending is a basic technique for wood forming.  One method
for steaming wood that could be readily adapted to rattan would be
pouring boiling water over staves which are heavyily rapped in cloth.
This technique has the advantage of selectively heating portions of
the stave.

A rule of thumb for steaming wood for bending is to steam the wood
at 212F for 20 per half inch of thickness; but I am not so sure
how well this rule applies to low density and porous rattan.

quote:


the problem is a bent piece of rattan needs to be straight

lashing it to a piece of angle iron and soaking it will and will not work
it will remove some of the bend but the rattan will most likely spring back
some.

what i would try is to over straighten the piece and use very hot water
or steam.  

here is the first of two methods i would recommend

the peice is now like this

     \________/  

attach it to something that won't bend (4x4, angle iron, be creative) with
clamps or maybe screws. V-blocks would be helpful or carve flat spots on the
ends               |
                 /
                /
        clamp>__/
           ----------------------------

now soak in HOT water or live steam (you might have this at work) and bend
the peice down and place a spacer in between the peice and the straight
edge so that the rattan has a bow the oppiside way. be careful not to
twist the rattan.
             ___________
   clamp> __/     O     \___ <clamp
        ------------------
now let this set over night and is should (read cross fingers and pray) be
straight.

                 OR the simpler way

find an old tree with a v of two branches put on as heavy pair of gloves
warm the rattan by either soaking it or pouring hot water over it  place it
between the branches and tweek it srtaight. this is how ive normally seen
it done.

either method the heat is very important without the heat the rattan will
want to bend back to its original shape
another trick is in your water add faboric softener this helps when bending
wood but may not be wanted in rattan since it will make it more flexible
perminantly.