Superstructure constructing on Brave Borderer

[Gary Cooper 3Participant @garycooper3]

Hi I’m starting the upper deck rear structure. I’m using plywood what the best way to bend it so I can achieve both concave and convex bends should I use two pieces or attempted in with one piece of ply.

[Gary Cooper 3Participant @garycooper3]

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Gary

You'll never obtain a compound curve in plywood – it'll only bend in one direction or the other, not both at once. For easing a simple bend, hold the part in the steam from a kettle for a few minutes while gently applying pressure from your hands to bend it. Remove it from the steam and continue to to hold it until it cools and retains the bend.

Dave M

[Gary Cooper 3Participant @garycooper3]

Thankyou Dave for the wise words I will double up my blood pressure tablets before I start lol

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Amlodipine and Jack Daniels works for me…

DM

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dave

You are correct in saying that bending plywood into compound curves for small model boats is impossible, the best that I have ever done is the cabin roof on a 4ft Huntsman.

But forming plywood into complex shapes is possible.

Art can also be beauty

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Yes, Paul – but such examples are possible only with something like an industrial autoclave and/or a very powerful press. I don't have one of those and I suspect neither does Gary – hence my rather dismal and depressing reply.
We can but dream.

DM

[S MParticipant @sm83187]

Dave, you can bent it easily with a little thought and ingenuity and some pretty basic tools and wedges; unfortunately this takes a lot of skill and experience as it is also very easy to break and it is this which takes the time to achieve as you have to work it little by little and usually over weeks rather than days.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

S M

I'm apparently inexperienced and/or lacking in skills then. Notwithstanding that, the 1/16" ply side skins on the 46" Precedent Hunstsman 31 – which I designed and built in 1972 – would not adopt the double curve required. Perhaps you could enlighten us by showing examples of your own successful plywood compound curves – achieved with basic tools and wedges?

DM

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 05/12/2018 08:43:35

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

If it takes weeks rather than days, I'd better not bother then, it's already taking me far too long to build anything!

I'll stick with the timber strip method which that inexperienced guy advocates in his builds.

Chris

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