Okay, so today’s project was all about “keel dancing birch timber.” Sounds kinda weird, right? It started with me staring at a pile of birchwood I had leftover from another project. I was thinking, “What can I make with this that’s a bit…different?” Then I remembered this old boat-building technique I read about, involving bending wood to create the keel – the “spine” of a boat.

So, “keel dancing” came from that. I wasn’t building a boat, of course, but the idea of shaping the wood in that strong, curved way stuck with me. It needed me to coax and bend the wood.

The Process

• Soaking the Wood: First things first, I soaked the birch planks in water. I just filled up a big tub, tossed them in, and let them sit. This makes the wood way more flexible.
• Setting Up the Form:I put bricks to make a gently curved form . I made some wooden supports before, and reused them.
• Bending (the “Dancing”): This is where the “dancing” part came in. I used clamps to slowly coax each plank. It was like a slow dance, gradually persuading the wood to take the shape I wanted.
• Letting It Dry: Once I got the curve right, I left everything clamped up and let it dry completely. Patience is key here. I didn’t rush.

It is a slow dance, using my weight and the clamps to pull that curve. It’s not about forcing it, but more like guiding it. I felt the curve forming, and let the wood to tell me if it is okay.

Finally,I nailed it! After all that bending and waiting, I got the curve shape I was after.