Replies

1. 
   user-148830 | Jan 30, 2007 07:14pm | #1

   Bob,
   I think the answer would be yes on that. You have to get the inside of the wood hot enough to plasticize. Then all of the board needs to be straight grain so there's no grain run out. That run out would cause splitting which I think is pretty likely with a piece that wide. But if you think the grain is straight and your steam box will hold temperature for an hour or more, why not try it?

   However, I think you’d have better luck with a cold bend, gluing up some bender ply inside of two outer pieces of maple veneer. Or just glue up a package of maple you cut yourself. The more plys the better so that the curve will hold its shape. Use plastic resin glue so you have more working time and good luck. Gary

1. 
   Woodteacher | Jan 31, 2007 04:49am | #2

   Gary;

     I think I will go with the cold bend using the bender ply. I dont want to spend a lot of time experimenting with steam on this project. Maybe at a later date I will try the steam. Can you suggest the best Modern adhesive for the maple veneer ( contact cement, yellow glue, hide glue.)

   Thanks again;

   Bob Hazard

   Kennedy High School

   [email protected]

1. 
   user-148830 | Jan 31, 2007 05:46am | #3

   Hi,
   I would go with plastic resin glue if your room temp is above 68 degrees or so. It will give you a lot more working time, like 30 minutes. You can do it with a pva glue but there is some creep in the glue and it sets fast. If you have a lot of laminates it will take a bunch of hands spreading glue to get this in your form quickly enough. Have fun. Gary