Bending wood?

[vash]

Paint stir sticks. Can I glue two together to double thickness and then soak of steam them to bend?

Or will glue be too brittle?


Impromptu popsicle /paint stir stick bridge build competition at work.

I’m picturing a suspension arch bridge. No want to soften the wood and clamp it around a radius to reset.

[herr_oberst]

If you soak or steam them after gluing, the bond will definitely release.

If it was me, and I tend to overthink everything, I'd steam the sticks, (not soak) then clamp them into shape until they dry, then glue them

The jig is the key, and it doesn't need to be complicated for an arch. 3 pins, two clamps.

[vash]

Thanks. Coworker bringing a steamer today.

[dad911]

If it's weight-bearing competition, use lots of superglue. Soak the wood. Laminate with CF if legal. At least that's how the HS competitions are won.

As above, steam, bend in a jig, glue after dry.

[masraum]

You do realize that we're going to need pics, lots of pics!

[vash]

Glue is provided. We will push the rules but we can’t use a stronger adhesive.

[vash]

I’m making the bridge loader. Inline scale w a small boat winch I think. Hitting HF later today!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Definitely bend them not glued, let them dry together in the arched position and glue afterwards. You'd be surprised how much their length changes relative to one another once the are bent.

If this is something you have to whip up today, look for found objects around the office as a form- a large thermos cup, or a small round trashcan, a plant pot something with the right radius.

Paint sticks are cheap arse wood with some weird runout sometimes. If you find the wood splintering on the outer surface as you bend it, get back in touch

[vash]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Definitely bend them not glued, let them dry together in the arched position and glue afterwards. You'd be surprised how much their length changes relative to one another once the are bent.

If this is something you have to whip up today, look for found objects around the office as a form- a large thermos cup, or a small round trashcan, a plant pot something with the right radius.

Paint sticks are cheap arse wood with some weird runout sometimes. If you find the wood splintering on the outer surface as you bend it, get back in touch

Yes! We are going to use the radius from a watering trough we have in the office for submerged concrete cylinders

[herr_oberst]

Vash, something like this could work as a bending jig for paint sticks. This stick is dry, I accidentally snapped another one putting pressure on it....so there'e some leverage available with that strap, ha ha!

[KFC911]

You still drink Miller ?

I know vash can post pics of bass .... hint, hint

[look 171]

How big is the radius and how thick is the lumber, Vash? It doesn't sound like you are bending anything over 1/2" thick. Does it have to be one piece of can it be more then several pieces glues together? Different species bend easier then others. Steam works best but soaking it in a tub of hot water works too. Another way is to kerf the interior diameter and apply glue to fill the gap, glue the a base piece to cover the kerf. It will be pretty strong.

[MBAtarga]

There will be a percentage of the bend that returns from the formed curve once the sticks are dry - so make allowance for that!

[vash]

we are supposed to wing it. we cant bring a woodshop to the office. hand tools are ambiguous. I might bring drill to install dowels I whittle with my Leatherman knife.

my radius will be the ends of a horse watering trough. I have carpenter clamps. I read the rules..no mention of using staples from my desk stapler. that is happening. and there will be a weird shortage of binder clips from the supply closet.

[masraum]

I can't wait to see photos. Good luck!

[Bill Douglas]

Something rattling around in the back of my mind. Isn't steam best for bending wood.

I like the jig setup.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

If you run into cracking on bending day, Using Herr's pic as a starting point, use a strap like he placed, and clamp it where the red arrows are for bending, the strap won't stretch, and this puts the wood in compression and will reduce splitting on the outer surface. Use some strong arse clamps or even mini vice grips to hold things tight.

Also mentioned was kerfing, which will get you a good radius quick and once multiple paint sticks are glued together, it will be pretty darn strong.

edit #2- also, steam is the way to go if possible. If you have something in the office where you can dump the sticks in boiling water, boil them like pasta before bending. If not, pre soak them soak in hot water as long as possible.


This is how I bend curly maple, but I use aluminum flashing instead of strapping.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Ok- Me was overthinking this. Paint sticks are easy. Wrap them in paper towels, soak in water, place in microwave and cook. They will bend easy peasy. Use straps to secure or for super tight curves.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Make sure the microwave spins it, soak in water covered bounty napkins, heat in microwave for 30- seconds to one minute, resoak and heat again as needed. I could feel the water boiling in the wood and it bent like butter. Just make sure the wood stays soaked while heating.

I did this while checking out random pics thread

[GH85Carrera]

Bending wood.

My grandfather had a story that he could not tell without laughing to the point of almost crying laughing trying to tell it. He had been working a long day at the meat packing plant, in early 1940s era. Hot and smelly and very hard work. He came one evening looking forward to a nice bath, and he walked into the bathroom, and the tub was full of water, with a 3 foot long piece of 2x4 floating in it. He immediately knew it was his son, my dad, that was behind it. He yelled Dannie! (Yea it was spelled that way) and dad went in the bathroom.

What the heck is a 2x4 doing floating in the tub? Dad replied he had read that if you soak wood in water, it will soften, and he could then bend it into a crescent. and carve it into a boomerang. Grandpa instantly told my dad he would give him 100 dollars to see him bend that 2x4 even a little bit.

Of course, dad struggled and tried and the 2x4 stood resolute. So grandpa said get that stick out of here, I want a bath.

Dad tried everything, and no bend of course. He had read it in a boy scout manual on how to earn a merit badge to make a boomerang. I think he gave up on that merit badge. He did earn a Eagle Scout.