Synopsis: Bent lamination makes strong curved parts that wouldn’t be possible with steam-bending or sawing. Because it is achieved through gluing up thin laminates, it works with most wood species, and the multiple face-grain glue joints give a bent-laminated curve great strength. The keys to success are accurately machined laminates, careful attention to glue, and uniform clamping pressure throughout the bend.

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Bent lamination—gluing up thin layers of wood to create a curve—allows you to generate curved parts that wouldn’t be possible by sawing or steaming. It lets you make sharp curves and reverse curves, enables you to make wide parts, and delivers uniform results for multiple parts. Lamination produces a workpiece whose grain follows the curve completely, which, combined with all the face-grain glue joints, gives a bent-laminated part great strength. Achieving a successful bend requires accurately machined laminates, careful attention to glue, and uniform clamping pressure throughout the bend. I’ll discuss all of these in detail.

Make solid stock into laminates

Let’s start with sawing. Slicing laminates is the work of a well-tuned bandsaw. Tablesaws can be used, but you lose lots of material in the kerf. This is expensive, and it reduces grain continuity on the edge of the glued-up part.

Bent lamination works with virtually any species of wood, even tropical ones that typically don’t respond well to steam-bending. Air-dried stock is best, if you can get it. Kiln-dried wood can contain a significant amount of stress, and if it does it won’t resaw well. If the stock is bowing and twisting as you saw it, use a different board.

How thin the laminates need to be depends on the wood choice and the degree of the curve. The brittler the wood and the tighter the curve, the thinner you’ll need to make the laminates. For each new curve, cut a test laminate, guessing how thick it might need to be (1⁄8 in. to 3⁄16 in. is a good place to start). Bend it over the form. If it’s too stiff to make the curve, make thinner ones until you have a laminate that bends to shape easily. Keep in mind that you’ll be bending a stack of laminates, so any resistance to taking the bend will be multiplied.

From Fine Woodworking #278

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	Creating Curved Furniture Learn when it’s best to saw, steam-bend, or laminate
	Brian Boggs’ Guide to Bandsawn Curves The bandsaw shines for many woodworking jobs, but if you ask Brian Boggs, its greatest potential is revealed when you use it with a template to cut curves
	Tapered Laminations Made Easy A single jig tapers the plies on the bandsaw and then guides them through the planer

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