3 Ways to Bend Wood
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- Опубликовано: 18 апр 2021
- In this video, I demonstrate the three traditional ways to bend wood.
-Cold Bent Lamination
-Steam Bending
-Kerf Bent Lamination
Tools and Supplies used in Video (Affiliate Links)
Earlex Steamer: amzn.to/3ZJwSjD
Tight bond 2: amzn.to/3WBsZe1
Laguna Bandsaw: amzn.to/3wbcPgz
Irwin clamps: amzn.to/3iQgnlg
Metal Strapping: amzn.to/3OJ6Dq4 
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Thanks! I truly appreciate your earnest to get back to me, and that we could establish a dialog. You are obviously well experienced in this field. I've always appreciated individuals with the hands on experience, and knowledge. Wonderful.
You’re welcome Kerry. Good luck on the project!
I was asked to repair a rocking chair that needs a couple of seat slats. A video like this one was harder to find than I would have thought. I am only 3 1/2 minutes in and I have the answer I need, (maybe). Thank you for sharing your knowledge of woodworking and thank you, as well, for the A rated production of the tutorial.
Thanks, I appreciate hearing that. Glad it helped!
Love you guys ❣️
My man! This is legendary! I’ve been stuck trying to solve a curve problem and you’ve saved me much trial and error. Thank you!!
Great to hear that. Glad it helped!
@@JShawFurniture so how bend wood? real wood
Very nice ❤❤❤
Hello my friend,
This is an indicator of high-level skills. Of course, it takes time to reach this level. Their creativity can be a reference and example for art lovers. Congratulations. See you.
Thanks for demonstrating these three ways to bend wood.
You’re welcome Payton. Glad it helps
Thanks for the instructions and insight. It is very helpful. Take care.
Glad to hear its helpful. Thanks, for the kind words.
Clear and infomative video. The downside of lamination that you mention, cleaning up the glue can simply be avoided by not spilling it and cleaning it before it dries, at least in my experience that almost solves the problem. Important, becauese sanding glue is a headache.
Prepping the sides with tape and cleaning up the glue on edges will definitely reduce the clean up. Every lamination is different but often I’ll surface the edges on the jointer and then through a drum sander for an extra quick surfacing.
Thanks for the video. Very informative and well produced. You mentioned the use of bendy ply, and I know it works well for some applications. However, in Australia where I live, the sheets only come in 2440 x 1220mm and is often way too large for some projects. Thanks for showing the three methods.
You're welcome, Les! Yea, the bendy ply here also comes in 4ft x 8ft sheets. It's great when doing large commercial projects but not the best solution for fine furniture.
Excellent techniques sir
Very informative vid, you answered many questions re. bending wood. Thank you.
From Missouri
Glad it was helpful!
underrated channel thank you for your video
Your comment made my day, thanks Sam
Beautiful work!!! thanks you so much for sharing!!!
Thanks, I appreciate hearing that
Thank you. Learned a lot⚘
Thanks Sayed, glad to hear that!
Great video
Thanks, great insights
Thanks Kalyani
Good video. Thanks for sharing the prps and cons
Any time!
Hi Jesse, I just found your channel because I’m trying to kerf Bend with plywood in an archway for my daughter. I’m going to install a door and then have the transom with the plexiglass above It’s an interior build. I also have a channel that I show how to do construction work but I’ve never done this kerf bending before
Hey Santo, Sounds like a good interior home project. You may want to use bendy plywood instead of kerf cutting. You can get there by kerf cutting but the bendy ply will give you more surface to attach to.
Thanks so much for your response. I tried yesterday, a water soak solution with Fabric Softener. The strips are 20" long 3" wide, and 1/8" thick. I used 2 strips of Hickory on the inside of the bend, and 1 strip of White Oak on the outside of the bend. Everything bent perfectly into place. However, as this is my first time, I'm sure I made mistakes prepping. For one thing when I removed the 3 strips from my jig this morning there was still moisture on the inside of the Strips. 2. I used YELLOW Glue! another mistake. These 3 strips are now on the jig with the Yellow glue. I'll check it out tomorrow. 3. There was still some visible moisture seen on the surface of the strips when I applied the Yellow Glue. I wasn't happy with this first try! Now that I have your valued advice and suggestions. I'll start again, and this time I'll cut 3 stirps using all White Oak. I cannot find any green wood in any type. I like the White oak however. What do you think about my use of the cold water solution? I have a steam box made, and it heats up to 212 Degrees, and I use 2-40 minute cycles. I think I will prefer to use the strips of 1/8" thickness rather than trying to bend a solid piece of 3/8" thick White Oak. The minimum with width for these stirrups is 3". I do use a wench that has a 3" wide belt, and its mounted to the table top just behind the jig. It does a wonderful job of pulling the wood around the jig. In fact coming out of the cold water solution I could bend it around by hand. However, I use the wench to hold the wood in place against the jig, then place dowel metal rods against the outside of the wood. This first try, is only a practice to see what I need to do, as I have no one with me to assist. Trial and error. Please, any advice you may wish to assist me with is greatly appreciated. As I said I am a disabled veteran, and this is a confidence builder. I hope I/ve explained all this in a reasonable manner.
It’s great that you got the bend. If you’re able to get 3 pieces that are 1/8” thick and then laminate them, that method is perfectly fine. Before taking them out of the jig, the pieces need to be dried. You can either wait a week to let them dry in the jig naturally or speed it up by making a drying kiln. A drying kiln is very simple, you just need a hot lamp, (either an incandescent bulb or halogen) and pink foam board around the piece. The bulb should be at least 10” away from the material (further away if using a halogen). Drying the pieces will reduce spring back and allow the wood to settle into its new form so it’s ready to be glued. It won’t take very long since they’re only 1/8” thick. In the winter, I use my wood stove to dry steam bends which works great.
For buying air dried wood, I usually find suppliers on Facebook marketplace. There are a lot of Tree cutters on there that will often sell boards for cheap.
Beautiful and super informative! I loved how you compared these 3 different techniques. One small piece of advice: get a radio lav mic.
Thanks John, I appreciate the feedback.
Awesome
Lovely work
Thank you Imran!
Thank you for this so useful trick!!! :)))
Glad it was helpful!
Bro thats sick
What a great and amazing video, very explanatory and you not only show one but three types. I can already see different uses of each method, as I am studying interior design so this gives me many ideas. I have designed a closed curved chair and wanted to know if it’s possible to do so with the cold bent lamination method. This method applies to larger pieces of wood right? The female and male piece for the jig means that the final result will come in two parts? Thanks again for the great video on to the next one.
Cold bent lamination will definitely get you there. Using an irreversible glue like unibond or epoxy will give the strongest bend. Good luck 👍
Thank you! I can now make my guitar stand! Awesome equipment btw! I also want to ask about your soundtrack, would you throw it up in the comments, please?
Thanks again
P.S. Where do you suggest I look for the best air-dried White Oak? All that Home Dep carries is KD. I sure don't want that!
Thanks to all family members ❣️❣️❣️❣️
I'm thinking of making a cellphone case. I might have to go with both limination and steaming for those small and tight bends. Thanks.
Cool project. Laminating is the way to go.
👍👍👍muy buen trabajo ,gracias por ayudar ,gracias 👍👍👸👸aprendí algo nuevo thanks
De nada, gracias por el comentario
Thanks for your explanation man🙂👍
I was thinking that maybe the kerf bend are suitable to make frames to round shaped windows?
Yes, it can work well for curved windows. Filling the voids with bondo or epoxy will reinforce the bend.
I fucked up a meserment in my 8th grade woods shop, I learn more then I needed to. But it workee
I'm not sure if you did this on purpose.. you probably did, but man, those transitions where you spun the camera around while placing it for the next shot was pro. I really thought that was cool. Nice job man.
Awesome comment! Thanks Troy
nice video homie
That bit you binned at the start would have done! 🤣
Hi mate,just found your chanel and i love your work!Can you tell me please how thick can you cut that wood so you can bend it properly?Thank you and keep up the good work!
Thanks for the comment. The wood species, thickness of the wood, degree of the bend and spacing of the relief cuts are factors to consider. That said 3/32” -1/16”.
Well, guess I'm going to start planning out a quick headphone holder for work now
Have you ever heard of pressurized ammonia to bend? It melts the cellulose in the wood. You can bend it anyway you want , then when it dries it is like the wood is made like that no stresses in the grain
I’ve heard of people using ammonia but haven’t tried it. Sounds interesting, will have to do some experimentation and more research. Thanks
Duuuude. Thats how its done. thx for this instructional. Sidenote: Mind sharing what that track is you got going in the beginning? crazy good tune.
Thanks Bro! Here’s a link to the song. ruclips.net/video/dwbQ6ijcV0Y/видео.html
Make us a nice Windsor chair..
Thank you, this was very helpful!
I have a question about lamination with wooden strips and glue: I need two parts that are exactly the same. I want to laminate one piece and cut it in half (length wise).
After letting the wooden strips with glue sit long enough, will this work? I never saw anyone do this before.
Thank you in advance
Yes, you’ll be able to cut it in half. Once a lamination is completely dry you can treat it just like a solid piece of wood. During the glue up make sure there are no dry spots that could cause delamination. Using a glue like Unibond or Epoxy will give you the strongest bond.
@@JShawFurniture
I will probably use Titebond 3.
Thanks for your time and answers!
That’s an easy subscribe
Welcome! 🙏
Thanks for the education! Subscribed! Love the track! What is it?
Cool, Thanks Miguel. I made that song in GarageBand
Cool. Now do one more and write out the DUNE logo from the new movie.
I really watching your methods. I am wanting to build my own saddle stirrups. I have a center jig made and have the dowel pins that fit into holes around the jig. However, I've tried using white and red oak by steaming, and water soaking. Each time I begin the bend from the top of the jig, the wood gives out around the first bend at the foot, or bottom of the stirrup. I happen to be using KD (kiln dried) wood. I am even cutting these into 1/8" stirps. However, the always give out? Am I making a mistake using KD wood? If so, where would I get wood that is not KD? I am a disabled veteran, so I am doing this as a confidence builder. Are you able to offer any suggestions. I steamed these strips (1/8") for 40 minutes plus at times over 212 degrees. I would much rather be able to do this COLD! Shape them using the yellow wood glue. The width of these strips are 3".
Hi Kerry, Kiln-dried wood is always more challenging to bend because the lignin (glue) inside of the wood has plasticized and hardened from the Kiln. Air-dried hasn't gone through that process, so it's much easier for bending. Red Oak is not good for steam bending, but white Oak is excellent. When you're steam bending, are you using a strap to reinforce the wood fibers while bending? Also, what are the lengths of the pieces? You definitely need a thin metal strap with the piece held in tension to get a successful bend. I would make the wood pieces longer for the bend and then cut them to size after so you have more leverage. I'm not too familiar with saddle stirrups, but because it will be used outdoors and get a lot of wear and tear, lamination might be the way to go. If you do go with a cold bent lamination, do not use yellow glue (Yellow glue can delaminate from humidity); instead, use epoxy or Unibond adhesives. It will be much stronger and will never delaminate.
Such an infomative and well produced video but sadly no comments. I really enjoyed watching this and the music choice is great. I always wanted to know to bend wood and make it nice and round. My dad tried steam bending and failed hard. The wood became to wet and broke. Since then I wanted to see it done right.
Glad to hear you liked the video! I make the music myself so I especially appreciate the compliment. Next time you and your Dad do a steam bend, try Ash or White Oak those woods steam bend the best.
Why on earth would you leave out ANY word of explanation on the steam bending process? Wasn't that the most important part??😮
Amazing and clear video! Question: why did you cut the center circle in the form in the cold bent lamination?
I watched again and think I answered my own question. You reused the form with the kerf bend and since there were so many more clamps involved, the circular hole gave you another space to apply an additional clamp.
Hey Charles, yes that’s correct. That bend was small enough where the hole wasn’t 100% necessary but it’s always good to have extra clamping options.
Question for you what do you clean down the road every time after cutting 2:08
After each pass on the bandsaw the board needs to be jointed again. That way it has a fresh new edge that can be referenced against the fence for the next cut.
Great video, would you have a preferred method of bending for wet / sea / boat environments at all. IE would the steam bend "Un-bend" if in wet conditions, or would protecting it in the normal way with Epoxy and/or varnish sort that out?
Also is there a preferred methid for larger pieces of wood or no difference?
Many thanks
With steam bending it’s typically a 10% spring back. So you should account for that when making the jig. It will move seasonally with a standard finish because the pores of wood will still take on humidity. Varnish and epoxy will seal the wood completely so that will be good to do if the piece will be in constant contact with water. Larger boards are the same process, however they should stay in the steam box longer. Rule of thumb: 1hr per 1” of thickness.
@@JShawFurniture many thanks for that!
Great video, thanks, but I wish I could find something how can I joint 2 bent pieces on the ends, like a butt joint end-end, but how a strong joint possible?
A floating tenon would do the trick to joint them. Also, a long scarf joint is another option, which would be appealing visually.
Hi I am currently experimenting on how to do steam bending for my school project. I just wanted to ask what type of wood you are using? What thickness? And how long did you have to steam it for? Thank you!
The wood was Ash, 3/8” thick, steamed for 1/2hr. The rule of thumb is: For every inch of thickness the wood should be in the steam box 1 hour.
Hi, for a bigger piece of 18 mm thick birch plywood that is approximately 600 mm long and 514 wide,it needs to bent to a radius of 500.Do you suggest using thin pieces of ply and laminating or steaming the 18 mm whole piece?The use will be :” a flared port in a subwoofer loudspeaker”.What method do you recommend?
Laminating thin pieces of veneer would be the way to go.
Hi god bless
I wanted to make a giant curved headboard and staple some woven material to it but I don't think a) I can find anything round enough and large for what I want to do and idk if I want to buy wood just to cut it just to curve it b) wood thin and cheap enough for me to even do this. I have a steamer already but idk if it would work for that anyway. Back to the drawing board. I will send this to my brother though since he may be interested
Hi Elizabeth, It all depends on your design, but for a curved headboard, that is let’s say a half circle, you could cut the arc out of multiple pieces of wood butt jointed end to end with floating tenons. Another option if the whole piece will be covered in fabric, you could just use a quality piece of 3/4 or 1” plywood to make the curve. Feel free to email me a drawing/image of what your wanting to do and I’ll give you my opinion on the best approach.
@@JShawFurniture I appreciate your response! I think I'm going to join scrap pieces of wood, use a router to groove just enough of a curve to steam and fit in long pieces of bamboo at different curve depths and then weave them together once they're set, thank you though!
I would say that the downside of lamination can be visual and the work you have to put in once working with thicker wood.
Not if you keep track of the pieces as they are cut. Lay them out as they came from the original board.
I want to try steam bending to make a Lyre, is there any issue when steam bending circular cut wood? As opposed to rectangular?
For a lyre you should be able to cut the form out of a thick piece of wood. Unless you’re talking about a Lute which I think is made of laminations that are coopered
Im trying to make an ancient egyptian head rest. The egyptians used them to sleep on, they slept on the floor with their head elevated to prevent sleep paralysis.
A lamination or steam bend will work well for that. I believe many of the Egyptian headrests were carved to shape.
@@JShawFurniture thanks for the reply. Im a noob at this sort of thing
Does this work for larger wooden rods ? If that makes sense ?
Store bought dowel rods will be kiln dried which is not great for bending. The Poplar rods won’t bend well at all. A store bought white Oak rod may have a chance of steam bending if you soak it in water for a couple nights and steam it for an hour longer than usual. Most likely though the grain won’t be straight enough and it will snap. The best option is to make your own dowel Rods from air dried lumber with Oak, Ash, Maple or Walnut.
I have a question. What kind of wood do you use.
Thank you for your trouble. 👍
Ash or White Oak for steam bending. The lamination and Kerf bends can be done with any type of wood
Which would you say is the best method for placing a 90° bend in a .75 inch thick, 12 inch wide piece? It is for a continuous shelf with fourteen overall bends (which will be jointed in to the horizontal and vertical planes)?
Steam bending 12” wide boards to 90 degrees is a tough challenge, though not impossible if the board has a 90* cut prior to bending. Laminating would be difficult and the corners will be rounded not a sharp 90 degrees. Kerf bending could work, especially if you use a taper bit and hand router, but the corners also won’t be 90. All that said, if the shelf has sharp 90 degree corners, I would recommend mitering the pieces and using hidden floating L Tenons every 3” to connect the corners. If it’s mounted against the wall the far side will be supported and when you match the grain it will look like one continuous board.
@@JShawFurniture Yeah, I'm on the taper bit kerf train of thought for this. The horizontal planes secured using a pocket jig/screws and the curves/verticals connected using a mortise and tenon. It will be used in the kitchen so it will also hold the range hood.
What is first tool attachment? Bentsaw attachment?
On Bandsaw there is a light attachment and extension table.
jesse jesse
we have to bend some woods jesse
im sorry
Great if you have a 100+++ in tools
It is great having quality machines but all the forms can be made without them if you’re creative. Use veneer for laminations and bend it over a pvc pipe. For Kerf bending you can use any type of table saw, just make a good cross fence.
What type of wood are you doing this with?
The lamination is poplar, the steam bend is Ash, and the kerf bend is maple w/ poplar laminated to it
Does that apply to real wood
All three pieces are real wood: Ash and Poplar
Is it possible to bend 3mm plywood at 90 degrees with papr?
Plywood is usually made with urea-formaldehyde resin which does not soften again when heated so steam bending it will likely crack when bent to 90 degrees. A kerf bend could possibly work, but since the piece is so thin, I would recommend using a solid piece of Ash, Oak or Birch and bending it over a hot pipe, to achieve a 90 degree bend that way. It will look cleaner and be stronger. Another alternative is a cold bent lamination. A big question to determine the appropriate method is what is the width of the bend you want?
@@JShawFurniture Yes, I thought so, probably better to use veneer, спасибо за ответ.
Uh, for how long did you steam the wood?
The rule of thumb is steam 1hr for every inch of thickness. In this case the wood was 3/8 so it was steamed for 25 minutes. Often, I’ll let the wood stay in the box an extra 10-15 minutes for good measure.
thanks but why did the music have to go so hard??? it was 🔥
Not with machine please
It will take much longer, but all three bends can be done without machines. For the lamination cut 1/16” wood veneers. The Steambend can be milled with a splitter, saw and hand planes. The Kerf bend can be cut with a handsaw and chisel. The lamination or steam bend would be the easier of the three.
Not a single word of explation about the steaming. How could u not realize that you blatantly missed the most important part?
Thanks for the comment, I should make a video and really dive deep into the steam bending process.
The main rules are:
1. The Steam heat should be 200F
2. Wood should steam in the box for 1hr per 1" of thickness (pretty sure that's in the video)
3. Wood should be in tension as it bends.
Ash, Oak and Beech bend best
Great video
Glad you liked it!