Bending veneers?

[flanajb]

Hi,

I want to try and understand just how tight a curve you can obtain with a standard 0.6mm veneer or whether different timbers have different radii that they can be curved too?

One other question. Where can I buy formica faced birch ply as this contrasts so well with burr veneers or am I better off just veneering the bly myself?

Thanks

 

[jasonB]

A lot will depend on which way the grain runs around the curve and there is certainly a lot of difference depending on species.

Richard Russel used to do laminate covered ply and MDF, I've used the MDF but not sure if they do it now, could probably get in in to order for you. Can you not use melamine faced MDF as you won't need the durability of formica laminate on a cabinet and you don't get the dark edges or were you going to have the edge grain visible?

J

 

[flanajb]

A lot will depend on which way the grain runs around the curve and there is certainly a lot of difference depending on species.

Richard Russel used to do laminate covered ply and MDF, I've used the MDF but not sure if they do it now, could probably get in in to order for you. Can you not use melamine faced MDF as you won't need the durability of formica laminate on a cabinet and you don't get the dark edges or were you going to have the edge grain visible?

J

Ideally, I want the grain to run perpendicular to the curve but I suspect I wont be able to get a tight bend ~ 40mm radius that way. Obviously, if I ran the grain parallel to the curve I suspect it would be fine. What do you usually do Jason. Do you just run the grain parallel to the curve?

I don't find that melamine has such a bright finish as formica. I always find that too the eye I can detect a deeper brighter white to formica.

This is what I am trying to mimic. I like the contrast of the white with the wood and I find trying to achieve it via spraying is difficult without me having to source out the spraying and polishing aspects of the project. As the pieces are for home I can't really afford to do that.

Thanks

 

[jasonB]

You may well end up having to stick your own formica to the ply.

You may get away with 40mm radius, dampening the veneer along the area of the bend can also help.

This is a bit of macassar ebony I just wrapped around a mug which is a fraction less than 80mm dia

 

[flanajb]

Jason, thanks for giving that a try. Most appreciated.

I have a vacuum bag so laminating the ply myself is not an issue.

 

[Peter Sefton]

The laminated handles in the 12th picture are made from .6mm veneer in Burr Walnut, Sycamore and Wenge with a radius of 20mm
http://www.peterseftonfurnitureschool.c ... g_gallery/
These were formed in the vac bag by one of last years students.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Peter