Replies

1. 
   bill_1010 | Oct 07, 2003 01:34am | #1

   How does your finish hold up to using this method?  Does it fisheye laquer or have any other adhesion problems or dye/strain unevenness?

1. 
   bushman1000 | Oct 11, 2003 12:07am | #3

   So far we have only progressed as far as bending difficult wood.  A few weeks ago we put them on the jigs, and removed them last week.  In the near future we are going to stain the pieces and apply a water based laquer finnish to see how everything reacts.  If you like I will try to keep you posted.

2. 
   bushman1000 | Nov 06, 2003 04:50am | #4

   We finished the pieces we had bent using Downy this week.

   The wood bulnose edging gled without any problems to the tops.  We then sanded the bullnose trim flush and the only thing I can say is that the bullnose trim appeared to sand easily.  We then applied a stain, and it went on without a hitch.

   The tops were then left over the weekend.  On Monday morning the finish of two coats of water based laquer were sprayed on.  Again the bullnose trim responded exactly as normal, no fisheyes or any other application problem.

   The tops have now been set aside for a couple of months to note if there is any discernable change in the finish over that period of time.

2. 
   mike4244 | Oct 07, 2003 11:23pm | #2

   I have used watersoftner for years to bend thinner pieces. Never tried anything thicker than 1/2". Hot water and downy and you can twist some species like a pretzel.I do not know for sure if it effects the finish. So far no problems with it. Last time I used downy was to bend stair riser for a 1/2 round starter step. The stock was 13'16" heart pine sawed down to 3/16" at the radius and left full on the straight run. The riser was finished with five coats of shellac, 1 1/2 lb cut. Still looks new after 7 years.

   mike

3. 
   ASK | Nov 06, 2003 05:22pm | #5

   bushman

   How do you use downy for bending wood? and how long does it take? I have some 3/16" veneer for a table skirt which I wanted to plane or sand down thinner so that it would be easier to bend on the curve but it the downy makes the wood flexible I might try this instead.

   ASK

1. 
   mike4244 | Nov 06, 2003 09:42pm | #6

   Very hot water, add downy and leave in until water cools some. Remove from water and 3/16" will bend easily.Probably takes less than ten minutes of soaking.

   mike

1. 
   ASK | Nov 06, 2003 11:08pm | #7

   Mike,

   Thanks

   I assume that since the wood is wet that if I clamp it to a form until it dries It will pretty much hold it's shape and then I can glue it.

   How much downy:water?

   thanks

   ASK

1. 
   mike4244 | Nov 07, 2003 11:33pm | #8

   I always used an entire bottle and saved what was left over. I am not sure how much Downy you need but a good guess would be about 3 ounces per gallon of water. You may get a slight springback when dry , doesn't matter because almost the entire arc will stay.

   mike

1. 
   ASK | Nov 10, 2003 05:01pm | #9

   Thanks Mike,

   Turns out that the vereer I cut was too thick and I couldn't joint or plane or sand it thinner and after glueing it in the form it didn't hold. So next morning I cut new veneer thinner and put it on the form to glue.  Since I do this on weekends only at a country house I'll find out next weekend if it worked.

   Next time I think I'll try the downy

   Thanks again

   ASK