heat gun

[WRB]

Has anyone out there ever used a heat gun to help relieve stress in planking curves? As I am doing the upper planks, the only area that needs to be steamed is between the first rib and the stem. It is rather annoying having to fire up the steam box for such a small area so I am looking for an alternative
cheers
Warren

[HS]

Warren,

I've used a heat gun to successfully bend thin stuff like frame laminations and the capping on cockpit combings. The latter being 12*20mm KDH.
On larger timbers I think you would scorch the surface a long time before it was heated through.

Hans

[Bayboat]

Wrap the part of the plank to be bent with towels, soak the towels with boiling water, then wrap with plastic to keep the heat in. Bend and clamp. Works almost as well as a steam box.

[WRB]

Thanks Guys,
I ended up unpluging the hose from the steam box, pulling the plank up with a clamp to just before breaking point and pointing the steam pipe at it for around ten minutes. I was able to tell it was ready to go in the rest of the way when the clamp fell off... easy really.
cheers