Steam Bending for Yellowstone Stagecoach Body Panels | Complicated Bends 

"Pretty classy coach" is an understatement if there was an understatement. Thank you for your classy videos!

This is so fascinating. In the early 1960's I was in high school and helped a family whose wife was disabled. The family were in their 80's. He had been a Yellowstone Stage Driver and would tell stories every day about the difficulties of driving the Yellowstone Coaches. All these years later this finally gives me a visual picture of the stories he told. Thank you so much.

Now class, what is the key to being a top rate craftsman like Dave here!?! That's right,....PATIENCE!!! With patience comes a variety of good qualities, my favorite is "the ability to see things" others miss in haste! Well done Sir.

In a world of instant gratification, this Man is a national treasure.

He 'plays' the clamps like a maestro - in an orchestra - he doesn't want to 'shock' the lumber, he says! Wondeful!

It always amazes me the eye and talent you have. It’s always fascinating to see the techniques that a creator puts to use. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I had a small one car garage woodshop for a few years and was considering designing and building a stagecoach for the fun of it, for the nostalgia. But THIS guy...THIS GUY ! Sheesh, I'll never get to this level. I wonder if they still sell those little cast iron replica toys, I could be happy just having one of those I guess. Incredible work Sir !!!

Just when one starts to think there is no way Mr. Engels could top the borax wagons, here he comes with a custom steam-bending jig for these beautiful Yellowstone coaches. I steam bend much smaller and thinner lumber to make Shaker boxes, so I deeply appreciate shat a challenge it is to steam bend 3/8ths thick Poplar, and I am amazed at the incredibly effective and versatile jig he has made. Well done Sir!

I'm a retired carpenter and it is a pleasure to watch a real craftsman at work. Really great work

It seems like when things were more difficult to do.They wanted more difficult things done. One does have to admire the very artful curves and balance seen in these not-so simple open passenger wagons. Topped off with a fancy paint job/ pin-striping, a fine pair or more of shiny-just brushed prancing horses in the finest -fresh waxed harness! Wow! The passengers would get there early, because the ticket line would be a long one. As I'm sure it is, even nowadays. At one point, I was thinking, good thing for "good-o'l pony pipe clamps"! GOOD-WORK, glad someone can keep the old tourist wagons going.

Experience is priceless in a job like this...

I watch the man work, he uses modern day power tools, and he does an amazing job using creative methods. Then I think about what he is doing, and realize that the original makers did not have the advantages of power tools, and electricity, it was all hand work. As good as this guy is, and I am not diminishing his work, but those guys in the old days were on another level.

A most impressive accomplishment! More impressive is the knowledge and skills required to 'work the wood'. You're the "top scientist" in this case!

Thanks for the visit. Will never forget the time with you.

Dave, my friend. You played those clamps like a fine instrument. What a pleasure to watch!

You sir are a true craftsman. I have been a trim carpenter for years but your impressive.

i rearly look forwards to these postings....

This is my favorite TV show. I look forward to it every Friday night. Like you, I do not watch "regular" TV. I don't like being told that I "need" things I have no use for. Thanks.

Proof of the old saying that you can never have too many clamps. Thanks again Dave. You make my Friday.

Your Dad must have been very pleased and proud of you.

You say that the coaches are your teachers,but to come up with these bending techniques is completely amazing...

Great to see that bending operation take place...the former looked like a work of art also...👍🏻

There can’t be anyone else in the world that can do this kind of work . It’s so spécialiséd

YOUR VIDEOS ARE OFTEN SIMILAR BUT NEVER THE SAME, I LOVE THE VIDEOS BROTHER, KEEP'EM COMIN

AndyB stole my thunder about clamps. Thanks again, Mr. Engels, for letting us watch.

I am so glad I found this channel. Thank you again for allowing us to watch you work and explain.

Well, you couldn't find a better tutorial on bending panels than this one. Probably couldn't find one close to as good, really. Those jigs are plain genius. Excellent, interesting and informative. Nicely done. Clamping it all down reminded me of the one-armed paper hanger joke. I can see where a couple of extra bodies could be very helpful. Thanks for the video!

You say fumbling...we see calm experience. I’ve always had a fascination with woodworking, thanks to my Dad. He used the same pipe clamps you have. I also purchased my own, but I also purchased the “quick” clamps from you name it hardware store. They are handy, but that’s about it, not enough clamping force, easily fail and are for those two reasons not worth it. Positive clamping force with an Acme thread is the way to go. Another informative and interesting video. Thank you and Cheers

Dave, so unique! I am a shipwright and have and been around a hell of a lot of steam bending but have never seen anything like this done before! This video should be required watching for apprentices at trade school to get them thinking about what and how they could use this method!

Pure genius!! The forms themselves are a work of art. Would love to see a resto project on a coach in the future.

What an incredible piece of work you have there. When I saw the forms I thought there are boat builders who would love something like that to bend planks. Would really enjoy seeing you work on a coach. You are the new "Clamp Champ"

Thanks, Dave, for letting us watch. It's an education!

This format (with the talking head as an intro) is great. Feels like we’re really getting to know you as well as we’ve got to know your excellent skills. Thanks for sharing

you are a master craftsman creating your tools in order to create masterpieces. I especially like the fact that your videos are not about the latest must have over priced tools . your narrative is that of a knowledgeable and capable person of many talents . if I lived close enough I would work as unpaid grunt just for the opportunity to learn.

Hey There I have been a carpenter for 25 years. I so love watching you work, The attention you put to every detail is awesome, Keep on trucking. Sincerely Joe from N/J

Hi Dave thank you for showing and sharing you talents on bending the boards and I hope that in the future you will show us how you bend and repair the ones you have out side love the work and skills you show 👍👍😀

As ever, a beautiful job and a lot of thought going into the process beforehand.

Beautiful as always. It is amassing that you can find popular boards that large.

Even that jig looks like nice furniture!

Thought ⚡️...Some hinged hardwood blocks using some of that great, tough, springed steel, as used on the bottom of the former(s), some washers, nuts, studding, and a shaped ‘U’ retainer fitted opposite each block along the top, into which the studding, with a washer and large wing nut drops, would make your life simpler...no more tube clamps springing off and/or dropping to the floor...👍🏻

My grandpa had that same jigsaw; I could smell that unique grease odor wafting up when you made that cut!

Wonderful content. These skills could be forgotten. RU-vid will preserve them for some time. Thank you for sharing

Magnificent coach work. My woodworking instructor was a Scottish fishing fleet builder back in Maine who showed us all these techniques, but you bring them to life in your work and i really liked your contraption for holding the sides. I was wondering about the knot, but you already answered it in the video. The tortured curves give the coach a really full look to it so it does not look like someone didn't feed it.

Yeah! Stage Coaches. This should be good. Like they say, you can never have too many clamps.

Really next level impressive craftsmanship, anytime you can get kiln dried lumber to steam bend correctly you have an incredible skill set, thanks for the videos it’s a true pleasure watching you work!

Very informative. I envy your clamp collection. Thanks again Dave.

Great job as always. Would love to see you restore a coach. You truly live in Gods country.

Thanks for showing. I can see the craftsmanship coming out when I see the fixtures or jigs that you made to do the bending. You know you're good at what you're doing when other coach repairmen come to you to have things made that they cain't do themselves. When we become the go to person, you must feel the honor that is being shown to you. Anyone that has used clamps know what is going to happen when you start to tighten them.

You've shown some genuine talent with this - designing and crafting that bending jig! I'm sure it took a fair chunk of your time to get it all as you needed it to be, but I'll bet that's paid dividends over many years! Thanks for sharing!

Dave, what an artist and craftsmen you are! I've always wanted to try steam bending wood but never made the commitment to get set up to do it. I always have imagined the steam box as being much more complicated than you show it. I do a lot of metal bending and use C clamps most of the time, one thing I did to make things quicker was to welded a 5/8 nut on the end of my C clamp screws and use my battery-powered impact screwdriver with a socket driver to run the lead screws in and out. I don't know if that's is possible with your style of clamps but it sure saves me a lot of time. Your work truly is something you can be proud of!

Hey, you can save yourself a lot of time by just going to Home Depot and looking at the lumber they are selling. They are just as bent and warped. 😂

Dave, I am every time amazed by your craftmanship

hi a little tip from germany u could use a ratched band, they don´t fall of and can press a lot more then the clamps super video greetings jörg plietker

These videos are a true treasure. You are a master craftsman and we are so grateful you are sharing.

cool jig, ,,,, never seen a double bend mirror image jig before,,,, very cool

dual cameras, though longer editing time, makes for a darn good video. again, a good job.

Great that there are still people around who can do this work

Sir, you an Engineering Artist. Astounding work !

Great video , I love ingenuous ways to fabricate something outta a regular piece of wood into a thing of beauty . Your craftsmanship is truly up there on a level most would love to be and accomplish . This is type of thing that keeps the mind always thinking

Those bending forms are so beautifully made.

When wood I'm working on bends in two directions, I'm "fwustwated!" And you're doing it in purpose! Taint fair! Once again you are way out ahead of me. Fantastic. I can't wait for the coach rebuild.

thanks been bending ox bows this week myself I love it when all works out. and glad to see stuff piled up on your table saw also. cant wait to see what is next

We used to have a jig saw just like that one 40 years ago. The cord would get frayed at the handle. The metal casing could give you a jolt! Back then, there were no grounded plugs. LOL

I always enjoy seeing Abbott Downing coaches being restored. Being from Concord, NH, where they were made, it is nice to see. There are still some of the manufacturing buildings from the Company in use around the town.

I was thinking about that jigsaw when you told how your dad bought it for you. I thought it looked like a tool from another era. Very cool.

I subscribed to several U-Tube Chanel’s and this is by far my favorite.

Thank you again Dave, it is so interesting to see you apply the knowledge you've accumulated over the years.

Enjoyed the video Mr Engel. That was very interesting. Takes allot of clamps and patience. Y'all take care and God bless.

Audible should hire this guy to read books, he has a storytellers voice.

Fantastic video - I bet you were good at playing musical chairs - loved that jigsaw.

I know that your passion is in making land crafts, but I am trying to imagine your skill set making water crafts. i.e. Chris Craft boats. Wagons will never sink!

A master at work. Thank you!

Awesome panel bending jig.What a treat to see you make the compound curves. As I was watching you play those clamps like a fine musical instrument, I thought to myself, "I wonder if he ever thought about incorporating some metal brackets on the steel end pieces and drawing them in with a few bolts and a drill?" Of course you'd need to thread or secure a nut plate to one side of the bracket, but with your metal working skills, I thought it might be worthwhile. At any rate, I truly enjoy learning from everyone of your videos.

you're an amazing craftsman..and a great teacher...i learn something new every week

As well as improving the graceful lines of the coach body I would imagine that the curve provides a lot added longitudinal strength as opposed to a completely flat panel. Another brilliant video, thank you from across the pond.

Excellent👍👍👍 truly excellent. How about a series"A trip into Dave's shoebox archive". A real pleasure to watch, like all your videos. Thanks Dave brilliant😎😎😎

I think just a "few" more clamps may have been needed ....lol . Classy coaches .. must have been a big event too travel in those days . Fancy rides .looks GREAT 👍👍😊. Keep em coming Mr Engels i always look foward too seeing the next process in building techniques 😉👍

That is outstanding work, Mr Engels. Thank you for showing your work.

very cool my friend enjoy seeing your area of Montana plus excellent craftsmanship in action, I'm a Nothern Montana person

I’m a furniture maker, I think you are a genius

When he was putting on and then taking off the clamps, it sort of reminded me of someone playing foosball. Wonderful video.

Another Superbe video with clear explanation, Thank you very much for imparting and sharing all this knowledge with us (the World?).

Unbelievable work, such a skill. Hope some young person is paying attention.

As an "outsider" as far as coach building it seems to me that instead of using clamps which tend to fall off perhaps putting rings on the sides of the form and using all-thread to apply the pressure. The rings being attached to each side would hold the all-thread in place as you tightened the nuts to apply the tension. That having been said, "if what you are doing works ~ don't fix it". Thanks for the videos!

It's amazing to me that similar techniques were used on auto body production through about 1915.

Great stuff! The straight-edge really shows the result, thanks for including it. Nice work!

And I thought I had a lot of clamps, Great Video, I always Learn some thing from you.

Looking forwards to follow the entire process if you ever get another commision, though it's not likely with the current wagons being as sturdy as they are.

An education as always. Thank you

That was a brilliant bit of steam bending 👍👍👍

Dave, this was very interesting to watch your bending process. Seeing the dance one has to do to get the clamps in place made me wonder if a couple of band clamps would help hold things in alignment as the clamps are tightened. Hopefully reducing the tendency for the clamps to "jump" off during the process of tightening them with even pressure. I am always impressed with the jigs and tools you use to assist your solo workstyle. Kind of like a one-man band. Thanks for sharing.

If I understood your comment on your jig saw correctly, you're almost as old as I am. Congratulations on your condition. My body would not allow me to do the work you do. Arthritis.

Mr Engels that was really great video. I bet you have storage problem with all the jigs you have. Plus a great memory.

Just watched 6 or 7 of your videos so it's definitely worth a subscribe. 👍👍👍

Always enjoy watching you work.

Thanks for the info always wondered how those panels were done.

Hi Dave, DI my eyes dissave me, it looks like you made some improvements on this Bending frame. making it easier on your self and enabling you to work much quicker,

Very interesting video Dave, and I bet you said dagnabbit!! when those boards split. lol. Cheers...Les.

I LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

A tight strung rope along side the forms might hold the ends of the clamps up and keep them from wanting to fall completely off. Thanks for posting.