Bending

[KRB]

Hello everyone

I thought I should share this with you. I needed to curve a small peice of wood for my model. Water alone wasn't working and I don't own a plank bender. The wife suggested I use her curling iron. Worked perfectly, you just have to be patient.

 

[POPEYE_DA_SAILOR]

Yes, curling irons and electric hair dryers are often pressed into service to bend wood. Remember, it isn't the wet that makes the bend, but rather the heat. Heat is more easily transmitted through the wood when the wood is wet, but it really doesn't make all that much difference whether the wood is wet or not as long as the wood is heated "through and through." Successful bending requires heating through and through, though. Just getting the wood hot on the outside isn't going to work as well. You want the heat all the way through the wood.

 

[CharlesEdward]

I will have to rememeber that tip, thanks for the tip Popeye, now to just get a hot iron, or somesuch.

 

[DAWarden-(Jaager)]

now to just get a hot iron, or somesuch

Better to get a "hot enough" devise. Cooking or charring the wood is best avoided.
A dimmer switch can provide temp control on something without its own control.

 

[POPEYE_DA_SAILOR]

now to just get a hot iron, or somesuch.

Try zapping the wooden piece to be bent in your kitchen microwave. It will probably take some practice to determine the amount of time required to heat it to the required temperature. One of the advantages of a microwave is that it will heat the wood evenly throughout, rather than just from the outside in. Wear gloves when handling so you don't burn your fingers.

 

[TheGatzby]

Try zapping the wooden piece to be bent in your kitchen microwave.

I wrap it in a wet towel/cloth to do this.

 

[AllanKP69]

There seem to be many ways to broad bend successfully. I wish someone would invent a practical adjustable tool for edge bending which is as critical and much more difficult to do. Spiling is the best way to go, but most kits only supply straight sticks so it is not so easy to taper in breadth then edge bend so they do not lift.
Allan

 

[POPEYE_DA_SAILOR]

There seem to be many ways to broad bend successfully. I wish someone would invent a practical adjustable tool for edge bending which is as critical and much more difficult to do. Spiling is the best way to go, but most kits only supply straight sticks so it is not so easy to taper in breadth then edge bend so they do not lift.
Allan

The difficulty encountered with edge-bending that you've described is God's way of telling us that he never intended wood to be bent on edge.

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

when this subject comes up no one mentions the type of wood. Some woods are just stubborn and will split before they bend while others will bend easy like the sample below no heat, no water the wood bends naturally. This piece is .080 x .150 (2 x 4 mm)
You would think the thinner the wood the easier it is to bend but that is not always the case. The thinner the wood the weaker it becomes unless you have a very fine-grained wood. I realize if you are building from a kit, you have no choice in the wood the kit makers do not select wood with properties suited for the job they select wood they have available, cost less, and looks good.

 

[AllanKP69]

he difficulty encountered with edge-bending that you've described is God's way of telling us that he never intended wood to be bent on edge.

You are of course correct, but with the vast majority of planking wood supplied being straight sticks instead of spiled planks something needs ot be done. Happily the method shown in the videos by Chuck Passaro works extremely well to get the proper shape and avoid lifting and gaps.
Allan