Glycerin-water mix (common in model shipbuilding to increase flexibility)

[RickNoyes]

Hi All

I was looking for something completely unrelated to this topic and got an AI response which intrigued me....

Glycerine-water mix. How to use it for bending thin wood
1. Mix 1 part glycerine with 3–4 parts hot water.
2. Submerge the wood strip fully.
3. Soak:
• Thin strips (1–2 mm): 1–4 hours
• Thicker strips (3–5 mm): overnight
4. Bend around your form.
5. Clamp and let dry completely.
It won’t make the wood rubbery, but it gives you a longer working time and reduces cracking.

I had a quick search of the SOS website and found zero references to this? Although AI said "common in model shipbuilding to increase flexibility". If it was common i thought I'd have found a referance here. AI does tend to hallucinate, which may be the case here, I was wondering if any of you have used this method for assisting in plank bending?

Cheers
Rick

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Hi All

I was looking for something completely unrelated to this topic and got an AI response which intrigued me....

Glycerine-water mix. How to use it for bending thin wood
1. Mix 1 part glycerine with 3–4 parts hot water.
2. Submerge the wood strip fully.
3. Soak:
• Thin strips (1–2 mm): 1–4 hours
• Thicker strips (3–5 mm): overnight
4. Bend around your form.
5. Clamp and let dry completely.
It won’t make the wood rubbery, but it gives you a longer working time and reduces cracking.

I had a quick search of the SOS website and found zero references to this? Although AI said "common in model shipbuilding to increase flexibility". If it was common i thought I'd have found a referance here. AI does tend to hallucinate, which may be the case here, I was wondering if any of you have used this method for assisting in plank bending?

Cheers
Rick

will the glue still hold with the glycerine? I would try it out first on some test strips.

 

[AllanKP69]

Glycerin attracts and retains moisture which may keep water based wood glue partially hydrated, preventing it from drying completely. I look forward to the test results, especially if it turns out to be useful for us.
Allan

 

[toliha]

I have used glycerin to soften solid wood veneer to make it less brittle and more flexible for furniture making or restoration. As far as glue, I then use veneer glue to glue it to another substrate such as plywood, but it has to be clamped or vacuumed clamped to fit the shape for at least 24 hours. I'd really be interested to know what glue would work with the glycerine for planking.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I have used glycerin to soften solid wood veneer to make it less brittle and more flexible for furniture making or restoration. As far as glue, I then use veneer glue to glue it to another substrate such as plywood, but it has to be clamped or vacuumed clamped to fit the shape for at least 24 hours. I'd really be interested to know what glue would work with the glycerine for planking.

when you say veneer glue, do you mean contact cement?

 

[toliha]

No, not contact cement....veneer glue is a specifically formulated glue similar to wood glue. It spreads easily seems slightly thinner than typical wood glue but has a longer trying time. You can purchase veneer glue from places like Woodcraft or Rockler.

 

[Bob Cleek]

Most reputable mainstream AI search engines provide links citing to the authority for the statements made in the AI generated responses. Check and see what source citations are provided in the referenced AI response. That usually gives you some idea of how authoritative the statement may be. It's not unusual for AI to "repackage" erroneous statements posted on social media platforms, especially if they are repeated often enough. It's good practice to test all AI generated information with the question, "Says who?"