I've been attempting to build a combing lip for the last couple days. Laminating using 3/4" X 1/8" strips of oak. The horizontal bend around the riser (against the 1/8" dimension) in no problem at all. The vertical bend (against the 3/4" dimension) has been nothing but trouble! Lots of force, lots of clamps, etc... almost get a gooey layer around and snap..

I'm betting this topic has come up in the past but I couldn't find much across the net from anyone who has actually tried it... Just a lot of "I heard" urban myth sort of stuff.

I did a few experiments/tests with some scraps of my broken oak strips. Soaked about 16" of the strips in a bucket of hot/warm water and some cheap (meijer brand) liquid fabric softener with seemingly good results. Soaked for 20 minutes or so and could almost effortlessly bend that vertical bend. Probably 1/2" or more out of "straight" in that 16" soaked (the horizontal bend was close to a wet noodle). Seemed to hold it's shape and firm up once dry on every occasion. Doesn't make much sense, but it seems to work?

So I guess my question is... Does anyone do this? Am I screwing myself when it comes to finishing due to leftover residue or anything?
I have yet to build a steam box just because the working time is so short from box to boat and I'm pretty slow with 50+ clamps and a significant bend up around that combing..

Any words of wisdom?