I need to bend thin pieces of wood and need support?
Question:i need to bend thin pieces of wood and need some kind of support at the back to prevent breaking. is there a sheet metal i coulod use that will support the back and keep its original flatness even after bending to the shape??
if so where can i get a piece from??
Answers:
If you NEED a metal backing to ensure strength, go to a place that makes ornamental iron railings. They should be able to help you. If you just need the wood to hold its shape, it can be done without too much hassle without any backing:
A light duty steamer can be made from simply routing steam into a PVC pipe, large enough to hold your wood.
Once the wood is steamed (if is less than 1/4" thin, probably 30 minutes is plenty), you have some time to work with it. Clamp it against a form that you made -- not likely metal unless it happens to be exactly the right shape. Just use lots of clamps to ensure there are no gaps.
If you're gluing several strips together to make a larger piece, and they will bend without cracking, you can just use slow cure epoxy between the wood strips and then clamp them against the form. When dry, they will hold their form.
Good luck!
You need to make a steamer. Then use a wooden mould to shape the wood.
why not purchase wood that is more pliable
Hi,
Depends what you're using it for. Do you need to have 2 good sides? is it decorative timber?
There are a couple of methods depending on the answers to these questions...
If you only need 1 good side then you could score/cut the "back" which releases tension and allows more flex
If you don't need it to be decorative you could use "Flexi-ply" which is, as the name suggests, flexible ply wood. It's expensive though.
You could steam it and then place it in a prepared former and apply constant pressure. Then leave to "set" for a time. Thats how the make parts for Windsor chairs.
Finally, depending on the thickness, you could cut very thin strips that will bend to the desired shape, glue them together in a former, a bit like when steaming, then remove and clean up when set!
Hope these suggestions help. Good luck!!
You don' give much detail, but I will make some assumptions.
1/ your wood is in sheet form and not strips.
2/ it is naturally stiff
3/ it is clean planed timber and not rough and uneven in thickness.
If you want to bend a piece of wood, the easiest way is to place the timber on some supports, with the centre section unsupported. next poor boiling water over the timber until it has soaked all of the way through on 100% of the area to bend. Next place a weight or several small weights onto the wood at the point or points at which you want it to bend. Keep the timber wet until it has bowed to the correct shape. at this point support the timber in position and allow to dry. If you want to assure its stability, then coat the timber with PVA glue whilst still wet with water and allow to dry. The PVA will be drawn into the timber and then harden.
If you are dealing with strips, then the same operation as above can be performed, but using swinging weights instead and a former or pattern made with wood dowels in the shape you require. When the shape you require is achieved, the timber can be clamped and then treated with PVA in the same way as before.
You could laminate the wood into shape, making it strong and the right shape. As for support, Im sure if you laminate that no support is needed. Unless the backing is needed for something else that is
Your answer is probably above,but you can always edit your question to explain the project so we are more informed of the result your after.
There are carpenter joiner's like me,ship wrights/builders,sheet metal workers and highly competent d i y ers on here that are glad to make suggestions.
BUT it is far better for all if you explain in more detail what you are trying to do.
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