Apologize as I’m sure this is a repost. yesterday I searched for how to bend wood, found some info, but try as I might, today it is not available here in the forum.
As the title says, I have some MDF baseboard (6″ tall) that I need to bend around a stair base. The radius is very tight. I have tried cutting small notches in the back of the base board but since I’m bending the board such that the front side is in compression, the notches aren’t helping. (and the baseboard is breaking).
I also soaked some baseboard in water for about two hours and it didn’t seem to help either.
Anyone have any tricks for getting this baseboard to bend?
thanks.
Replies
Try and put more details in your question. Tight radius? Be more specific. You didn't give much detail on your attempts.
The kerfs must be almost all the way through...maybe 1/8" to 1/16" from the outside face depending on the radius. Typically many folks glue a thin backer on with white or yellow glue. I've used a laminate backer which is basically plain formica backing. Water isn't going to be of any use to work MDF. See the example of kerfcore for some ideas. You would also find your application more likely to be in Breaktime as it's house oriented instead of furniture which is the main thing of Knots.
http://www.interiorproducts.com/products_timberflex.html
Edited 9/19/2006 6:39 pm ET by RickL
tight= variable but less than 2 feet radius
On a totally different note, I would like to suggest a technique that a friend of mine used. I don't think that I am skilled enough to do what he did, but perhaps you might want to take a stab at it. We had a similar situation with a profiled baseboard, a tight radius on a stair wall. What he did was to mould the base, in place, out of plaster. He took a piece (maybe 3" x 8" x 1/8") of aluminum and ground it to the profile of the base and used it to shape the plaster, in place. Sort of using it as one would use a card scraper. As I recall, it took a couple of applications, but it worked beautifully. Just a thought.
Best,
John
Ramblin,
I remember reading about a solution to a similar problem years ago in Fine Homebuilding. The author was having the same problem you described, cutting kerfs in the back of molding, bending it and having it break. (I'm almost sure though, that the material was something other than MDF.) He solved the problem by gluing some type of cloth fabric (canvas, maybe?) to the back, after cutting the kerfs. The fabric was just stretchy enough to allow the materiel to bend without breaking. You would have to leave the fabric in place for installation though, and possibly caulk to cover the slight gap between mldg and stair base. Just a thought, good luck with it. Gary
Buy flexible base board and save yourself the trouble. Your supplier should be able to get it in the same profiles as the regular MDF base. Usually comes in 6 or 12' peices. If you need to bend it to a really tight radius, you can put it in hot water or let it in the sun to soften to bend it. Make sure to use construction adhesive to hold it, pins will pull out of the material.
Edited 9/20/2006 11:09 pm ET by craig
interesting. is that how it's described in the store? "flexible baseboard"?
Bendable, flexible, it's a poly urethane material that is run thru the same shaper knives as the MDF profile. If you can't find it at the store you bought it, check around with other suppliers, as many carry the same profile.
Get some bending plywood...can get it laid up vert or horiz...1/8", 3/8" or half...
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