Three Ultimate & Easy Methods For Bending The Wood
Most of the projects require the wood to be straight but some require bentwood. The Bentwood will add uniqueness as well as a flair to the project. There are a number of different methods that can be used to bend the wood. Below the user can find different techniques so that they will find out which one suits the particular project.
Method 1: Steam Box Method
- Set Steam Box: The steam box is a wooden box that is constructed to hold the wood which the user needs to be bent, or the steam box can also be a piece of PVC or another kind of pipe as well. The steam box should have a number of holes through which steam can be pumped in. In order to ensure that steam pressure doesn't blow up the box, there should be an exit hole as well.
- Set Up The Form: In this step the user needs to set up the form that the steamed wood will receive. Once the wood will become dry it will remain in that shape. The user will need to clasp down the wood to the form with the help of clamps. Either make the wooden clamps or purchase them.
- Steam The Wood: Turn on the heat after that place wood inside the chamber of steam box and start steaming. For each inch of thickness wood, it should be steamed for at least one hour.
- Remove Wood From Box: After the appropriate time is done then remove the wood from the steam box, at the same time place steamed wood in the form. It's very important to do this as quickly as possible after the wood from the steam box. Wait until the wood is completely dry and gets the desired shape. Bend the steamed wood very gently and carefully.
Method 2: Lamination Method
- Preparation: The first step under the lamination method is to prepare the wood to be bent. For that, the user needs to cut down the length of the wood strips a little longer than the final measurement. This is due to the fact that the length will shorten due to the curve. Before the cutting is done, please make a diagonal line using a pencil and a ruler all across the bottom of the wood strip. This will be helpful, in the case if the wood strips get dropped, that time the user will be able to tell which order the wood strips belong to.
- Cork Liner: Once the above step is done then its time to line the form with the help of thin cork liner. The Cork will help both anchors the lamination to its form and will smooth out any irregularities in the sawn form, this will help to get an even crisper bend.
- Glue: Spread the glue on the top of one of the wood strips. This glued strips will hold down the wood in the bent shape. To dispense the glue onto the wood using a disposable roller. The user can use the glue-like epoxy, urea-formaldehyde glue, etc.
- Place Wood In The Form: The user needs to quickly place the wood in the form before the glue dries. Place another wood strip that is lined with glue on top of this. Continue the process until the desired thickness is achieved. Clampdown all the pieces together. Cut down the ends to the desired measurement after the glue is dry.
Method 3: Kerf-cutting Method
- Prepare The Wood: Begin the process by cutting down the notches, or curves. For instance, 2/3 of the thickness of the wood. The kerfs are actually placed on the inside of the curve. While making the curve the user should be very careful, this is because of the fact that if the kerfs are too deep, then they may break the wood. The best way for kerfing is even spacing. Try to space out all of the kerfs as evenly as possible. Another important point is to always cut across the grain.
- Compress: To push the gaps created by the notches together simply compress the ends of the wood. This will be the shape of the wood once it's done.
- Fix The Bend: In order to hide any cuts that may be occurred during the process simply face the front side of the wood strip with a veneer or with a laminate. This will also fix or set the bend.