I made this jig a after seeing it on YouTube. It's simple to make. I used a ¾" steel pipe. Don't use galvanized! Make a strap to secure bottle to jig. Secure jig to your bench. I also advise you to put a piece of nomex or some flame retardant material between the steel mounting base and wood jig as a precaution. You don't have to and I didn't at first. However I thought it may be wise to do. 

 

Also it would be advisable to do this outside over concrete like your driveway or patio. 

Here's the jig

 

 

Cut your wood strips or what you are going to bend and soak them. I did this for 10 min but it depends on thickness. Soak until a little pliable.

 

 

After soaking, light your torch on the jig. Dribble a few drops of water across the hot pipe. This helps steaming and prevents burning as wood dries from steaming process. Repeat this periodically.

 

 

Start your shaping.

 

Thanks for looking! 
Happy steaming! 
Cheers. 
MrRick 
 

Thanks!!

I've made 100+ shaker oval boxes.  I have a metal "tray" that I put water in, put on a double burner hot plate, bring to a slow boil and put the strips in for about 15 minutes.  The strips are bent over a form the size of the resulting box size.  Mark the overlap, then take to an anvil (I have just used black pipe) and nail the tangs.  Then use another set of forms to hold the shape while drying overnight.   Shaker box sides vary in thickness based on the size of the box but I think the biggest I've done is about 1/8".     

 

I believe violin makers use something similar to your jig to shape the sides of their violins.

You're welcome lew! 

Kmealy.... do you have a detailed technical step by step of your process or would consider doing one? Sounds very interesting.

 

 

Edited November 17, 2025Nov 17 by MrRick

John used to have a PDF version of his how-to manual.  I'll look for it

https://www.shakerovalbox.com/

 

https://www.shakerovalbox.com/articles

 

Thanks kmealy !