Best And Easy Methods Of Straightening Warped Wood
Wood tends to warp when it is exposed to moisture as well as to the heat. If you want to straighten warped wood, you can do it by following one of the below-mentioned methods:
Method 1: Using Sunlight
- Wrap The Wood: Under this method the first step is to wrap the affected area of the wood in moistened towels. The user needs to moisten the several large towels and then wrap them around the warped wood. The user can use towels, sheets, as well as the rags. The material that the user uses must be able to retain moisture and also the large enough to cover around the warped wood piece. Simply, run the towels under the water until they are fully soaked after that wring out as much moisture as possible.
- Bright Sunlight: keep the wood in the bright and direct sunlight. Place the wrapped wood in a warm area where it will receive a lot of sunlight during the day. The inwardly bent side should face on the down and the outwardly bent side should face up. This method works well during warm and dry weather. It may not be well suited in cold, cloudy, or wet conditions.
- Spray Additional Water: It depends on the extent of the warping, the user will need to keep the warped wood in sunlight for 2 to 4 days. Spray the towels with the additional water throughout the period so that it will remain moist.
- Dry: The entire job can take number of days that depends on the damage. The user needs to check it regularly and once the wood is unwarped, then remove the towels and let it dry. The user needs to remember that during the night, bring the wood inside and place it in a warm place with the inward curve facing downwards.
Method 2: Ironing
- Wrap The Wood: The first step is to moisten one or two large towels and then wrap them around the wood, but the user needs to make sure that the entire area is covered. The towels should ideally be large enough to cover up the entire affected wood piece. Select the towels or rags that can withstand against the heat of an iron.
- Ironing Board: Keep the wrapped wood on an ironing board or on other flat and hard surfaces. The raised bubble of the wood should face up.
- Heat Iron: Set the iron on its highest setting. Turn on a steam iron and then keep its temperature setting to the highest point. Give the iron 2 to 5 minutes for heating up. The user needs to remember that the iron should be able to work with steam.
- Press The Iron: Over the warped surface apply the iron. Press down the iron on one end of the covered wood and gradually slide the iron all the way over the entire surface of the wood, it is important to apply even pressure to the warped area. Hold down the iron on each affected spots for about 5 to 10 seconds before moving it to the next spot.
- Repeat As Needed: Check the wood and if the problem has been removed then stop. If some warping still remains there, then repeat the process until all the warp is gone.
Method 3: Using Pressure For Severe Warping
- Cover The Wood: Using the damp paper towels cover the wood. Moisten the several sheets of paper towel and then arrange them over the inwardly curved surface of the wood.
- Wrap Plastic: Over the paper towels the user needs to wrap the plastic. Wrap down the several layers of plastic wrap all over the wood and also the moist paper towels. The plastic wrap should be tight as well as secure.
- Clamp: Keep the wood in a clamp, the user needs to over-tighten the clamp slightly until the affected warped area begins to straighten out.
- Leave For Week: It is advisable to keep the wood clamped as well as wrapped in a warm location for one week. After the first week, remove the wood from the clamp and also take off all the plastic wrap and paper towels also.
- Apply Additional Pressure: If in case warping still remains, then return the wood to its clamped and let it dry in the same way for two to three weeks.