Jfet wrote:
AnEv942 wrote:
Steam and pre bend?
Yes, thinking about it...but I am going to try kerfing today on a scrap section to see what it might look like. I really don't want to have to build a 4'x8' steam box just for these 4 remaining pieces. Also I worry that the plywood would swell and warp in other ways.
But steam and pre-bend is definately on the table. I could also go with three or four layers of 3mm instead of the two layers of 5mm...but the 3mm is $57 a sheet and I already have a lot of the 5mm from an old project.
Cross fingers on kerfing...I will post results soon.
a few ways I have done this work, on furniture.
1. Find a clothing supplier that has a hand steamer that is used for pressing pants and jackets. Slowly moving the steamer across the surface will slowly allow the wood cells to warp (bend).
2. Find thinner sheets bend them and glue them together. (This is how I have done stair banisters.
3. Find a small bathroom. Place the sheets vertically over a bathtub, or toilet (closer to ceiling the better), and run the shower repeatedly as hot of water you can (turn up the water heater temp), keep sheets away from the water stream and the bathroom door and windows closed so the air in the room is saturated with humidity. Keep this sealed and every couple of hours run s the shower often to keep room humidity up. (The surface wood cells will swell, but after a few weeks the will reduce and sand for smooth surface.) Immediately take a sheet one at a time to frame and slowly bend. Also, use weights at the end of the sheets, don't place pressure at bend location and don't attach anything until bend is achieved. Wood needs to spread like dough. Just like bendin a sheet around a large pipe. I have used this technique in building floor to ceiling bookcases and skinning canoes.
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