Replies

1. 
   bill_1010 | Sep 04, 2002 12:31am | #1

   you could use kerfs (back side) to help the bending instead of steam. However kiln dried pine isnt the best candidate for steam or bending in general. 

   There is a technique based on laminations where you get two pieces of baseboard divide each into thirds. use a band saw to create your laminations by cutting on the waste side with some room to spare to slide it through a planer to smooth out the laminations. The three pieces then form to make a board that before glueing cures can closely mimic the radius. This is much more labor oriented as you can fathom.

   There is urethane molding that can be made to fit the curvature.

2. 
   AlanTurner | Sep 04, 2002 01:13am | #2

   There is a very flexible plywood, made for bending.  I get scraps from a friendly cabinet shop when I need it, so don't know the cost or availability to the general public.  Have 2 pieces to width, 3/8" thick.  Shoot on the first one, slather with Titebond, and shoot the 2d to the first.  When the glue dries, it is quite strong and stable.  I did a 4" diameter door jamb arch top recently.  The plywood is rough, so plan to spackle, or veneer it, before painting.  Also, an ogee top molding covers the raged edge.  On my job, the problem was the arched casing.  There, I made the arch, did what I could with the router, and then cut and filed a cabinet scraper for finishing the profile to match to other, vertical casing.  Amazingly, each of the two casings took about 30 min. or so to scrape into shape.  I thought it would take longer.  Soft, clear pine was great, although I rarely use it.  Makes a mess with the sap on the blades/bits. 

   Alan T.

3. 
   clampman2 | Sep 04, 2002 03:46am | #3

   Cronin,

   Bending plywood does indeed work the easiest. Plywood suppliers to cabinet shops carry, or can get, bending birch oriented to bend either longitudinally or sideways, but not both.

   Your base cap can be bent using the lamination method. Since base caps are fatter at the bottom than the top, they don't like to bend in a horizontal plane.

   I have pretty good luck bending poplar even though it's been kiln dried. Since your radius is generous, you should be able to get by with hot water at the worst.

   Clampman