Flattening warped wood

[Zephyr YachtsParticipant @zephyryachts]

Hi,

I am currently building an Aeronaut Clipper kit ( not much I know but it’s my first proper foray into kit building) and I have come across a small and relatively pathetic problem. The deck has been lined with small grooves which appears to have made the deck bend upwards longways. The main deck pretty much straightened itself when I glued the bulkheads in, but the hatch at the back to get to the rc bits is separate and still warped. What is the best way to flatten it out? I would think that steaming it and then putting it under a weight would work, but my family thinks otherwise.
You seasoned boat builders probably know the best method naturally, but I am new to the art and haven’t worked with very thin wood very much.

Thanks!

[Zephyr YachtsParticipant @zephyryachts]

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Zeph. Try the steam, eh? What have you got to lose!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

How about a hot iron on an ironing board and holding it straight for a few mins after?.

Ashley

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

If you can get it straight what I'd do if possible is then glue some pieces of timber, like mini-joists, to the underside to resist it bending. As the timber is thin it will probably be pulled flat again as you found with fixing to the bulkheads. 

Chris

 

Edited By Chris Fellows on 14/04/2020 22:18:29

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

sadly, as a teacher of woodwork for 25 years retired, you will never get it back to a workable condition, the timber has shrunk in the direction of grain, and there is basically nothing you can do, steaming soaking or otherwise, and tbh you will spend more time trying to straighten it than what it as a piece of timber is worth…….your best bet is just to cut the small loss, and buy a new piece of ply to fit and relieve your mind of the stress of trying to straighten for a few weeks only to lift the weight off it for it to spring back to the way it came originally…………..once a timber, solid ply or laminated has twisted, there is absolutely nothing that you can amend that nature has taken control of. sorry.

.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Zeph

Could you post a picture please, of the offending warpage?

There may be a solution

Bob

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Very true Neil. When doing woodwork at school a friend was making a table. He found a lovely piece of timber for the top but it was warped. He spent weeks and weeks planing it flat but it kept warping so gave up in the end.

As regards Zeph's problem though the offending ply is lined to match the deck. As Bob says a photograph is required. Another solution could be to glue a thicker piece is straight ply to the underside set back at the edges to allow the hatch to sit in place. Even if thin ply or other timber starts off flat it can curve anyway when varnish etc. Is applied and needs restraining in place.

Chris

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Like Neil says your best route is to cut your losses and make a new hatch as you will spend longer trying to fix the old one and still end up with a twisted hatch.

Did you use a waterproof to refit the deck?

[Zephyr YachtsParticipant @zephyryachts]

Hi guys,

All is well (at the moment); I glued some plywood reinforcements underneath the hatch and it is flat enough now.

thanks for the advice!

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