Coat tree

The design form of this coat tree was inspired from the presidential office set design for the movie “Wild, Wild West”. A decor piece, sitting in the scene background, was a coat tree for six coats and umbrella stand. The light curve shape and metal/wood media mix provided the opportunity for a new adventure – and the opportunity to do more steam bending.

A small stash of white ash provided a potential material to construct a prototype. Although this material was kilned-dried I had one knot-free eight feet piece that was 8 inches wide. What made this piece worth the try to steam bend was the growth rings were essentially parallel to the face. This grain configuration provided a series of “crush zones” along the spring growth rings. This 3/4 inch thick board bends similar as if a group of thin laminates were cut from the board and glued back into a curve position. The first test piece easily accepted the 6.5 inches and 11 inches radii of the design; however, the 6.5 inches radius proved to be marginally acceptable on some sequential pieces.

12 pieces are required to make the 6 feet tall coat tree

The interface between the top and bottom portion of the full stave required some design adjustments

The partial stave used to complete the umbrella basket