Plywood bending question

[Bishop]

Is there a woodworker or model maker in the house?
In preparation for an upcoming build project I need to find out what the minimum bend radius is for thin plywood sheet between 2~4mm thick. Anybody know?

 

[Broch]

Is there a woodworker or model maker in the house?
In preparation for an upcoming build project I need to find out what the minimum bend radius is for thin plywood sheet between 2~4mm thick. Anybody know?

I'm afraid it depends entirely on the plywood you're using. I recommend getting as small a quantity as you can of the type you intend to use and then try. In my experience the best quality ply doesn't take on moisture very well and is harder to bend after steaming.

 

[Janne]

It will not answer your question (sorry!) but if you need a small radius bent ply, smaler radius that the plywood can make, you can bend individual veneer blades, layer by layer after steam softening, then when dry, glue them together into ply.

I found it was easiest if the fibers ran at a 45 degree angle to the long axis of the ‘bend’, the next layer at the same angle but opposite way.

I hope my writing makes sense?

 

[Dave Budd]

Model making ply is very flexible, deliberately so. You should be able to do it with moisture rather than full steaming. I've done some by wrapping it in a hot wet towel for a while and then bending.

Also, ply that thin is 3 layers. So it will bend much tighter one direction than the other. That means the minimum bend radius could be 4 times larger in one direction than at 90degrees. Can't say how tight but i would think 25mm circumference is easily done. 4mm will be much less tight than 2mm i would think

 

[snappingturtle]

I have done some forming with marine ply think it was around a 4inch radius

 

[zornt]

You can make the bends by kerfing the wood.
Make evenly spaced cuts on the wood to about 3/4 inch depth of the wood.
Then add glue and bend around the object.
Sorry i cant explain it any better.
Try Google to get more info.

 

[Dave Budd]

Wot he said about the cuts. ☺ Though 3/4 depth, not 3/4" unless it's 1" ply