Two Ways To Make Wood Bend With Water
Here are the two ways by which the users can easily make the wood bend or flexible by using the water:
Way I- Hot Water Bending
- Items Required: The users need to start by gathering all the tools and the materials that they require while performing this procedure like Clamps, High-strength glue, grained wood, and planer.
- Create: The users need to create the bending form by setting up the drawing compass as of the thickness of the lumber piece. With the help of the compass, the users need to trace down the 2 lines over the plywood stack in that particular shape that they want to bend down their wood piece. Then they need to trim along the traced lines by using the bandsaw. The users are now having the gap that is the perfect size for their lumber piece and the 2 part plywood piece so as to press down the lumber piece from both of the sides.
- Level: Then the users need to level their lumber piece into the thin strips and once these strips are glued down again then these strips will become more flexible than the actual lumber piece. The users can easily use any wood type but the cross-grained type of the wood and the wood that is having the knots are more prone to get broken off easily. The users then need to level it into the strips as how far the users have planned to bend it down.
- Soak: Then the users need to soak all the trimmed strips into the hot boiling water as this will help in making the wood more flexible that can be quite important for the tight bends. In order to achieve great results, the users need to allow the wood to remain wet for almost hours after the users bend it down.
- Glue Down: Then they need to glue down all the trimmed strips together instantly as working with the fresh planed surfaces helps in increasing the bond strength. The users can easily use the epoxy, resin, polyurethane or any glue of the high strength that can easily work upon the wood surface.
- Clamp: Then they need to clamp up the wood to its bending shape and then bend up the laminated type of wood with the plywood pieces that the users have already prepared. Then they need to clamp it tightly in many areas. The users need to use many clamps as this will reduce the chance of having the gaps in between the strips.
- Dry: Then the users need to allow the glue to get dried off and then they need to check out the instructions of the glue so as to get the idea regarding the curing time. The users can also wait till 1 day and then after one day the wood will remain in its new form.
Way II- Steam Bending
- Items Required: Start by gathering all the items that the users require while accomplishing this task like green hardwood, Thermometer, hose, Bending strap, Plywood, Clamps, Bandsaw, Drill, Worktable, Dowels and the steam container.
- Choose: The users need to choose the lumber as the green hardwood is very much suitable for the steaming process. The dried wood or the softwood is having a great risk of breaking down.
- Craft: Then they need to craft the steam box and to do so they need to build the groove and the tongue box that should be large enough to hold up the plywood piece. Then they need to set the flexible door on each of its ends and then seal up the joints by using the screws and the silicone material. Then they need to insert the rods of the brass or the wooden dowels direct through the sides so that the lumber can easily rest upon it and the steam can easily spread around it. The users are advised not to apply any paint or the seal over it so that it can easily dry out while using it.
- Setting: Then they need to start setting up the steam drainage and the collection as well. The users can also use the electric kettle for producing the steam for the small wood pieces and for the large pieces, the users can use the pressure cooker or the gas can. Then they need to join up the source of the steam to the box accordingly.
- Create: Then the users need to create the bending form and to do so they need to use the bandsaw so as to trim the plywood stack in the shape of the innermost curve. Then they need to screw down the plywood over the table in order to build the form to bend down the wood once they are steamed. In order to avoid the splintering of the outermost curve, the users can create the plywood back or can use the metal strap to secure the table.
- Apply Steam: Then they need to apply the steam to the wood and to do so they need to place the wood piece inside the box and then seal it and then heat up enough water to generate the steam and then allow the steam to pass through the box for almost 30 minutes.
- Lay The Wood: After the steaming process, the users need to lay the wood at the one edge of their bending form and then bend down the wood all around the form at a moderate pace. Then the users need to compact the wood firmly in between the 2 plywood piece.
- Cool & Dry: Finally allow the wood to get cooled and dried off completely and the users are advised to place the wood in the open area for almost a day before detaching it from its bending shape and when it is cooled down completely the lumber will hold up its new form respectively.