How to bend plywood

Plywood is in great demand. It is used for a variety of purposes: in the manufacture of furniture, in construction. If you pay attention, then a large number of parts made of plywood, are curved. Can this be achieved at home? Yes! There are several ways and technologies to bend plywood, which will be discussed in this article. In this case, we will pay attention to how to do everything with your own hands.

Material Features

In hypermarkets you can buy ready-made curved plywood. But its thickness will be no more than 4 mm. It will be an excellent option for the manufacture of the arch. You can find Chinese flexible plywood, which perfectly combines price and quality. If such options do not suit you, then you have to make a bend yourself. In order to bend the thicker plywood, it will take an effort. There are several types of technologies: for example, steaming, bonding, notches and not only.

It is worth noting several positive aspects of this building material. The price of plywood is quite acceptable. It is used for the manufacture of various non-standard designs. Moreover, plywood is a material with which even a non-professional can work. The most important thing is to understand the manufacturing technology of curved plywood surfaces. This will be discussed further.

Attention to each layer

In the process there are several difficulties. What are they connected with? Mainly, with the structure of the material and the technological process of a particular method of bending. For example:

• It is easier to work with the smallest plywood. But do not forget that for the manufacture of banal arch will require plywood thickness of 10 mm. It will take effort to bend such a “puff”.
• Each layer of veneer is located at a different angle. This is due to in order to give the product strength and resistance to bending.
• In special workshops, plywood bending is very simple. It is completely soaked under steam, and with the help of a special vice, the necessary shape is curved.

This method can also be used at home. To do this, you should properly use steam from a boiling pot or kettle. Some use household irons, which are able to produce steam.

Given all these nuances, it is important to understand the following. Plywood, as well as, in principle, all wood cools very quickly. Using the steaming method at home is extremely difficult to achieve uniform heating of the sheet. Therefore, this method will be relevant for small workpieces.

steaming method

A sheet of plywood at home can be steamed over boiling water in a container. It is important that steam be supplied continuously. There is another method that involves soaking plywood in a bath. Soaking time directly will depend on the complexity of the bend and the thickness of the sheet. For example, if bakelite plywood, it will take less time. If it is bakelized, then it will take more time.

• When soaking in water with a temperature of 60 ° C, the soaking time is increased to 2 times.
• When soaking in water with a temperature of 15–30 ° C, the period increases by 20 times.

After the soaking time, the plywood must be fixed on the template and well fixed. Wait until dry. If the bending is carried out across the fibers, the bend will be as large as possible. If you decide to do this operation at home, it is better to combine hydration with steaming. Steaming is performed directly at the bend, and the upper layer of veneer is moistened.

If you go back to the method of soaking plywood in a bath with water, then after the water treatment the plywood will become quite elastic.

There is one danger! There is a very high probability that the plywood may become delaminated. Therefore, for starters, it is best to try on a small piece of plywood so as not to spoil the entire future structure.

The work process is as follows:

1. The plywood of the required thickness is soaked in the bathroom.
2. Every five minutes it is checked for its elasticity.
3. If after thirty minutes the plywood bends easily, then the procedure should be completed.
4. Further, the softened part is installed in its place, while it must be secured with a screw.
5. After complete drying, the fabrication of the required construction can be continued.

Here is such a simple and primitive method of bending plywood under the action of moisture.

Incision method

If you need to bend plywood from 16 to 22 millimeters thick, the incision method is the most effective. This will require a cutter. She cuts in the intended place of the bend. The depth of the notch should not exceed half the total thickness of the workpiece. The incision should also reach the veneer, which is located in the opposite direction, to the extent that it does not break. If on the one hand the angle is needed by the other, then cuts in these places are made of another width. According to this principle, plywood is curved to make a boat.

Further, the bent workpiece is clamped on a form, on top of which a sheet of veneer is glued. The drying period can take twenty-four hours. As an adhesive, you can use PVA or epoxy.

Gluing this or that detail is permissible both inside and, conversely, with notches. If the notches are outside, then voids can form.

Gluing

To give the plywood a curved look, the “pattern” detail is cut from a thin sheet of plywood. It is laid on a sheet so that the direction of the veneer alternated. As a result, the structure will have the necessary ductility and rigidity. Each layer of plywood is glued with epoxy glue. To shape the workpiece clamp clamps for one day. After drying, all irregularities and loose glue are removed from the part. Upon completion, the workpiece is ground.

Sophisticated plywood designs

One of the complex structures that can be made of plywood is the arch.

Often there is a need for several visits to soaking plywood. Especially if you have not yet achieved the required angle.

With any of the above methods you can bend the plywood. If you decide to use the soaking method, then you should take care of the template first. Having fixed the part on the template, you definitely do not have to redo everything again. Make this template easier than ever. To do this, take the rail of the same length as the length of the part. Then cut several pieces of chipboard and secure them with slats. The number of such fragments will directly depend on the length of the sheet being bent. Then, on the already finished frame, fix the plywood puff with screws and wait for it to dry completely.

Some useful tips

For successful work, it is important to remember a few nuances. The bend radius across is much smaller than the length. Already bent parts store in a room in which low humidity up to 10%. If you choose the steaming method, then such structures should be bent when they are still warm. An important factor is the company that manufactured this sheet of plywood. Perhaps they can bend the plywood under the desired angle. Especially, this service will be useful if you do not want or are afraid to spoil the material you bought.

So, we looked at different methods with you. Most of them are simple and can be easily implemented even at home. You all must succeed. Share your comments on the experiments performed on plywood bending.