Steam Bending Plywood

[HazarD]

Ok fellas....I really need some input here. I am trying to bend 1/4" plywood.

I am trying to get about a 30 degree bend just above the holes in the middle of this piece....

http://www.itwebworx.com/woodworx/locker/DSC00753.JPG

I have a plywood box slightly larger than the piece and support it approximately in the center. I am using a 1500 watt electric kettle to produce the steam. My very first attempt resulted in failure. Not sure if I steamed too long (some of the veneer blistered, which would indicate to me the glue failed which in turn tells me I steamed too long). I steamed initially for 15 minutes, but the piece seemed awfully hard to bend, so I put it back in for 5 more minutes.

Any assistance yall can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[Admin]

I think everyone's afraid to give advice on this one - for fear that it won't work. I did an internet search and it appears to be as much art as it is science. Do you have some scrap wood you can practice on to get the timing right? I'd hate to see you ruin another good piece.

Most of the information available is on boat building sites and they're using thicker lumber.

[JimD]

HazarD

Don't know if this will be of much help or not but I built a photo backdrop for a person using 1/4" plywood. Not sure of the actual bend though it is fairly tight.

I built a jig to bend the plywood over clamped one end to the jig then applied bath towels that I'd soaked in hot water to the bend area and started applying clamps. I wringed out most of the water and wore rubber gloves to protect my hands.

You might try it on scrap to see if it will give you the results you’re looking for. I’ve added a picture so you can get an idea of the bend. Client wanted it painted with non reflective white paint since she’s going to use it to take photos of her craft products. Hope this helps or at least gives you some ideas.

Have A Great Day.

Jim D.

[dananne]

I sure like the idea and bend that HazarD (Jim) gives you. To me, that would be a safer way. If I could, I would build a form that was almost solid, cover it with 18 to 22 gauge sheet iron and then follow the same method as Jim's. Take some doing but that is a good looking piece of plywood and it deserves a good bend. Dan

[HazarD]

I have pretty much given up the idea of steam bending this piece. Every attempt I have made resulted in failure of the outer ply on the back side and crinkling of the face ply. I even tried a 1/4" thick piece of exterior plywood steamed for an hour....OH MAN!! it wouldn't budge!! But it did give me confidence in the tenacity of exterior plywood :)

I ran across some 1/8" bending plywood in a Van Dyke's Restorers catalog I am going to order and laminate 2 pieces to make the 1/4" thickness I need. I may have to add a face veneer to it after bending to get the grain I need, but that remains to be seen.

Oh JimD...that is a really neat idea for a backdrop for photos. I may have to make one myself for shooting pics of some of my smaller projects!!

Thanks to all have given input on this. I will update when I attempt the next phase, which is the lamination. Til then...keep ur eye on the blade, not ur finger!!