How to bend plywood: proven methods. How to bend plywood at home How to bend veneer at home

Methods for bending plywood that can be used at home. You can give the desired bend to almost all types of plywood of different thicknesses.

Plywood is used in construction and furniture production. When it becomes necessary to bend plywood parts, you can use several methods: use flexible plywood, contact a specialized company, or bend the part yourself.

Flexible plywood can be purchased at construction supermarkets. She doesn't large thickness(3-4 mm) and is suitable for constructing arches. Cut out the part to the required size and attach it to the frame with screws. Flexible plywood made in China is on sale - this optimal combination prices and quality.

To create more rigid bent structures, steaming, notching, gluing and combinations of these methods are used.

When using any method, you mustthe following principle must be observed - the fibers of the top layer of the sheet should not be located across the bend.

Steaming

In industrial processing, steaming is carried out using special installations and the necessary bending is carried out using a press. At home, a sheet of plywood can be steamed over containers of boiling water or an iron with an uninterrupted steam supply.

You can also simply wet a sheet or part in water (in the bathroom, for example). The soaking time depends on the thickness of the sheet and the direction of bending. For bakelite plywood it is less than for bakelite plywood. Below is a table for calculating the time for boiling plywood at a temperature of 90 - 100 C.

At home, it is quite difficult to ensure the boiling of sheets or parts: there is no container of the required size, and it is quite expensive to maintain the boiling temperature for several hours. An alternative to boiling at home is soaking in warm or cold water:

for soaking at a water temperature of 60C, the time increases by 1.5 - 2 times
for soaking at a temperature of 15-30C 15-20 times.

After soaking, the part is attached to the template, fixed and kept until completely dry. The greatest permissible bending after steaming or soaking is possible when bending across the fibers. At home, it is better to combine steaming with humidification. Steam only the bend and moisturize upper layer veneer

Notching plywood

This method is used for bending sheets of plywood with a thickness of 16 to 22 mm. In the place of the intended bend, cuts are made with a milling cutter. The depth of the cut should not exceed half the thickness of the sheet and reach the veneer layer in the opposite direction, but not break it - the sheet may split. .For wood 4 mm thick, the cutting depth is 2 mm. The number of cuts is greater, the more m steeper bend radius. You can make cuts different widths How can we achieve that on one side of the plywood the angle will be different. In this way they bend plywood for the walls of a boat, for example.

The workpiece is clamped onto a mold or template, and from above, onto outside stick thin layer veneer Drying time is about a day. For gluing, use PVA or epoxy glue. You can glue the part with the cuts inward and vice versa. In the second case, voids are formed. But they will not affect the rigidity of the part.

Gluing

To create a part curved shape it is cut out with a small tolerance (up to 5mm) from a thin sheet of plywood. The part (pattern) is laid out on the sheet so that the veneer directions alternate in finished product- this will provide greater rigidity and ductility of the part. Layers of plywood are glued together epoxy glue and clamped onto the workpiece to give shape with clamps for a day. After complete drying, the part is sanded and any rough edges and glue are removed.

USEFUL TIPS

To get the result quality part It is important to consider the following points:

The bend radius across the grain is much smaller than along it
Bent parts must be stored in a room with low air humidity (no more than 10%)
Steamed and soaked parts must be bent warm

For bending complex structures And large quantities bent parts It is worth contacting a company that processes wood and plywood. In their arsenal are powerful steam installations, designs for legend different forms and hot presses.

You can choose how to bend plywood from the suggested methods - they are simple enough to use at home. Provide the parts with appropriate humidity and wait until they dry completely. Use high-quality glue and fix the parts well.

Methods for bending plywood that can be used at home. You can give the desired bend to almost all types of plywood of different thicknesses.

Flexible plywood can be purchased at construction supermarkets. It is small in thickness (3-4 mm) and is suitable for constructing arches. Cut out the part to the required size and attach it to the frame with screws. Flexible plywood made in China is on sale - this is the optimal combination of price and quality.

To create more rigid bent structures, steaming, notching, gluing and combinations of these methods are used.

Steaming

for soaking at a water temperature of 60C, the time increases by 1.5 - 2 times
for soaking at a temperature of 15-30C 15-20 times.

After soaking, the part is attached to the template, fixed and kept until completely dry. The greatest permissible bending after steaming or soaking is possible when bending across the fibers. At home, it is better to combine steaming with humidification. Only the bend area is steamed and the top layer of veneer is moistened.

Notching plywood

This method is used for bending sheets of plywood with a thickness of 16 to 22 mm. In the place of the intended bend, cuts are made with a milling cutter. The depth of the cut should not exceed half the thickness of the sheet and reach the veneer layer in the opposite direction, but not break it - the sheet may split. You can make cuts of different widths, which can ensure that on one side of the plywood the angle will be different. In this way they bend plywood for the walls of a boat, for example.

The blank is clamped onto the mold and a sheet of veneer is glued on top. Drying time is about a day. For gluing, use PVA or epoxy glue. You can glue the part with the cuts inward and vice versa. In the second case, voids are formed. But they will not affect the rigidity of the part.

Gluing

To create a curved part, it is cut out to a small tolerance (up to 5mm) from a thin sheet of plywood. The part (pattern) is laid out on the sheet so that the veneer directions alternate in the finished product - this will ensure greater rigidity and ductility of the part. The layers of plywood are glued together with epoxy glue and clamped onto the workpiece to give shape with clamps for a day. After complete drying, the part is sanded and any rough edges and glue are removed.

To get a quality part as a result, it is important to consider the following points:

The bend radius across the grain is much smaller than along it
Bent parts must be stored in a room with low air humidity (no more than 10%)
Steamed and soaked parts must be bent warm

To bend complex structures and a large number of bent parts, it is worth contacting a company that processes wood and plywood. Their arsenal includes powerful steam plants, structures for shaping various shapes and hot presses.

Plywood sheet is a common material that is used not only in construction, but also in such works as making and upholstering furniture. Such widespread use of this material is due to its properties, as well as flexibility and durability. In addition, a sheet of plywood is relatively light, which makes it much easier to use compared to, say, boards.

However, the plywood sheet has strictly geometric shapes, which is very convenient for covering walls or floors. But, when it comes to some kind of design work or creating furniture, respectively, in order for plywood crafts to have a truly finished look, it is often necessary to create various forms, for example, round. Therefore, it will not be possible to bend plywood with your own hands without using technology.

There are several ways to bend plywood at home. As a rule, this process will require the presence of moisture and elevated temperature; this is necessary due to the structural features of the plywood sheet and its fibrous structure. Below we will talk about the properties of this material, and also present some bending technologies.

Features and characteristics of plywood

To begin with, let's highlight several characteristics of plywood, which not only explain the popularity of this material, but also allow you to bend plywood for various works. At its core, a plywood sheet is a combination of several veneer layers that are glued together during production. The fibers of each layer are located perpendicular to each other, which provides the sheet with extraordinary strength.

Depending on the type of processing, plywood is divided according to its characteristics into moisture-resistant, medium and limited moisture-resistant, as well as laminated and bakelite. Each of them is distinguished by the presence of a certain coating and impregnation, which allows the plywood sheet not to lose its properties in a humid environment. The bakelite version can withstand temperature differences from -50 to 50.

How to bend plywood - features, types and markings of video sheets

The ease of processing of the material deserves special attention, since sawing, drilling and planing can be done effortlessly thanks to the structure, characterized by the presence of several layers. At the same time, you do not need to use any special tools to process plywood. At home suitable conditions regular saw or drill.

Plywood sheets are often used for interior decoration premises, as they have high noise insulation rates. In addition, the material has excellent thermal insulation properties. Do not forget that plywood is an environmentally friendly material that does not affect negative influence on human health and well-being. Combined with good aesthetic properties, this allows the use this material for treating absolutely any room.

The highest quality grade is bakelite plywood, which has the highest mechanical strength and moisture resistance. Moreover, it is completely fire-safe and resistant to alkalis or salts.

Basic ways to bend a sheet of plywood

As mentioned above, in order to bend plywood, two conditions are required - heat and a certain level of humidity. However, it is possible to use a dry method to change the shape of the sheet. In the case of how to bend plywood there is important principle which must be adhered to. It lies in the fact that the thicker the sheet, the more time it will take to change its shape. Depending on the thickness of the sheet, the bending method is selected.

Steaming method. This method is very popular in large production, since in special workshops it is enough to simply saturate the sheet with steam, giving it the desired shape in a softened state. When answering the question of how to bend plywood at home using steam, you should be aware that we are talking exclusively about small-sized sheets.

Homemade steam chamber for steaming wood video

Technologically, the process involves supplying softening steam directly to the material. There may be two options here - use a steam ironing unit for ironing or hold the plywood over a container with boiling water in it. An alternative to this method is to directly immerse the sheet in a container of hot water, and the water temperature must be at least 95 degrees.

How to bend plywood large sheets? Notching method. If plywood sheet processing is required decent thickness, then the ferry cannot save the situation. The real solution for such material is the cutting and gluing method. In the place where plywood bending is required, certain cuts should be made, the depth of which is no more than half the thickness of the sheet itself. Otherwise, you risk breaking your workpiece. The width of the cut can be varied to achieve the desired angle. After the cuts have been made, the sheet should be laid on the template, gluing the veneer sheet onto it with epoxy glue. The product should dry within 24 hours.

How to bend plywood using the notching method video

Gluing plywood sheets. Another option is to completely cut and glue the sheets using a prepared template. Here it will also take at least a day for the glue to dry. Using this method of bending, the plywood will turn out clear geometric shape, smoothness in in this case will not be. As for glue, you should pay attention to the PVA option, which will have a protein or synthetic composition. It is noteworthy that absolutely any adhesive can be used to glue unveneered plywood sheets. A channel is usually used as a clamp during gluing.

Bending a plywood sheet is often required not only in the processes of creating furniture, but also during the finishing of a room or apartment. Often this may be due to certain structural features of the room. In any case, regardless of the purpose and chosen method of bending sheets of plywood, you should consider some useful tips during work.

When purchasing glue, be sure to pay attention to its properties. The substance must have high adhesive properties, non-toxicity and harmlessness to humans. It should harden quickly and still remain colorless. Unfortunately, there is no universal glue for joining all types of plywood; it is advisable to choose the one that is most suitable in its properties.

If you choose the steaming method, you should shape the sheet only when it is in a warm state. And already bent parts can be stored in a room with low humidity, otherwise this can lead to the material softening and returning to its previous shape.

Some plywood companies bend plywood to order from the buyer. This service will be convenient for those who plan to purchase large sheets, but at the same time he is afraid of spoiling them. Manufacturers of this or that type of plywood will make the required bend without damaging the structure of the material or losing its physical properties.

An important point is the preparation of the template, and it is necessary not only for the soaking method, but also if you bend the plywood sheet with steam. You can make a template yourself using wooden slats and several fragments from chipboard.

The answer to the question “how to bend plywood?” can be any of the above methods. The main rule is strict adherence to technology, as well as careful preparation of additional consumables.

To bend plywood, two conditions must be met: moisture and heat. There is also a dry way to change its shape. You can work with material of any thickness, but the thicker it is, the more time it takes to achieve the result. Bent plywood used in construction to construct arches, spiral staircases etc.

What kind of plywood can be bent?

Thin layers of wood are glued together, arranged in different directions. As a result, the fibers of one layer have a direction of 45º, 60º, 90º with respect to the fibers of adjacent layers. This method of making plywood increases its bending resistance, so it is easier to bend material with a small number of layers. In production, it is bent using special equipment, clamping it in dies. It is pre-treated with steam and thereby acquires sufficient elasticity.

During renovation or private construction, a bent plywood structure may be needed. Then you have to make do with improvised means. But even in this case, the work can be done efficiently if you follow the technology.

Methods for heating plywood

Heating can be done in the following ways:

ferry,
in hot water.

Without heating, the work can be done using epoxy glue.

Hot water should be poured into a bathtub or other suitable container big size. The workpiece is immersed in it for about half an hour, as a result the layers of wood are steamed. IN living conditions steam is created using a boiling kettle. Some experienced craftsmen heat up plywood using an iron. The steam supply must be constant, otherwise the wood will cool quickly.

Securing the workpiece

Moistened plywood easily changes shape, but if the bend angle is large, the work is done in stages. The wood is bent to a small angle, dried, then the steps are repeated as many times as possible until the required shape is achieved. If the bend angle is small, you can do it in one go. The next step is to secure the plywood, which can be done in 2 ways:

the load is installed at the bend, the ends are tied with a rope and supports are installed under them;
Fastening to the template is done using tape or rope.

In the second case, any curved structure made of rigid material can act as a template. The most commonly used is fiberboard. To make an arch, steamed wood can be secured in the opening using self-tapping screws. Some nuances of steaming wood should be taken into account: in very hot water it can delaminate, so it is important not to overexpose it. A thin layer can steam in 5 minutes. You can use another option: iron the workpiece moistened with water with a hot iron. After this, immediately give the required shape, repeat wetting and heating with an iron.

Video about bending ready-made template see the end of the article.

A metal template made of durable steel is also used to secure the plywood, but it bends along with it. This technique is preferable for large parts with complex configurations. The steel strip is tied to the plywood until it is moistened, then its shape is changed. The steel template is untied only after the wood has completely dried.

If a weight is used to secure the plywood, it is important that its width is equal to the width of the workpiece. If it is smaller, only that part of the wood that is equal to the width of the load will bend. Changing the shape of plywood is carried out independently when its thickness is up to 20 mm. It should be taken into account that different types of wood have different abilities to bend and unbend. Compression can be performed by 30%, stretching by 2%. Good results show walnut, beech, ash. Maple, oak, and larch are difficult to change shape.

How to bend large sheets?

Very large leaf It is not always possible to treat with steam. In this case, so-called cuts are made. They are strips that are shaped like a cone. Used manual milling machine. The cuts must be made to the opposite layer, it is important not to catch it, otherwise the material will split. For wood 4 mm thick, the cutting depth is 2 mm.

The steeper the bend radius, the greater the number of cuts. The plywood should then be clamped onto the template, and a thin layer of veneer glued to the outside of it. The glue used is epoxy or PVA. Drying time: approximately 1 day. Thus, the workpiece is hollow at the bend, but can withstand heavy loads.

Very often during the construction or renovation of houses there is a need to obtain curved surfaces of plywood sheets.

In construction, repair or furniture making, there is a need to bend plywood and obtain curved surfaces.

This raises the question: how to bend plywood so that the bend is strong and does not crack? You can perform this procedure yourself.

Bending at home

When bending wood, there are a number of difficulties that are associated with the structure of the material, as well as technological features of this process:

How thinner sheets plywood, the better and easier it is to bend them.

The thinner the material, the easier it is to work with. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that to construct, for example, an arch, the plywood must have a thickness of at least 10 mm. That is, you need to bend an already quite thick puff pastry.
When making plywood, layers of veneer are placed under different angles to each other. This is done in order to increase the bending resistance of the material.

There are several ways to bend plywood at home, the most popular of which are:

humidification (steaming);
incision;
gluing.

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Steaming

In workshops and special workshops, bending and the required curvature are achieved quite simply. To do this, the part is saturated with steam, after which it comes under the influence of a special vice, which bends it to the desired radius of curvature.

At home, this procedure is quite difficult to carry out, since it is very difficult to find a suitable container with constantly boiling water. Therefore, only small pieces of plywood can be bent in this way. To do this, you can use an iron with a steam function or hold the material certain time over a container of boiling liquid.

An alternative to steaming is to dampen the plywood. To do this, pour into a container of the required dimensions (for example, into a bathroom) hot water, after which the workpiece is immersed in it for a certain time, which depends on the direction of bending and the thickness of the sheet. Below is a table for calculating the boiling time of plywood at a temperature of about 95°C.

Three-layer plywood, mm			Five-layer plywood, mm	Time for bending along the fibers, min	Time for bending across the fibers, min
1,0	15-20	10-15	1,0	60-90	60-90
1,5	20-40	15-20	1,5	90-120	90-120
2,0	40-60	20-30	2,0	120-150	120
2,5	60-90	60	2,5	150-180	120
3,0	90-120	90-120	3,0	180-210	150
4,0	180	120	4,0	240-300	180-240

As a result of this procedure, the layers of wood are steamed. After steaming, the wood is bent by a small angle and fixed in this position in several ways:

a load is placed in place of the bend, the ends of the plywood sheet are tied together with a rope, and supports are mounted under them;
The plywood is fixed in a prepared template, to which it is attached using rope or tape.

Then the workpiece is dried and used for its intended purpose. Steamed plywood easily changes shape, but if you need to create a large bending angle, then such work should be done in stages. Therefore, all procedures are repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the required bending value.

An alternative to steaming is to soak the plywood in warm or cold water. In this case, you should take into account:

for soaking at a water temperature of 60°C, the time must be increased by 1.5-2 times;
for soaking at a liquid temperature of 20-30°C, the time increases by 15-20 times.