Hello folks,
I'm not an RC modeller but need to use some of the thin birch plywood on a woodworking project. I have never had my hands on this stuff and will have to mail-order since it isn't available locally. What I am trying to do is get a feel for the typical allowable bending radius for the thinner sizes like 1/64, 1/32, 1/16 and are there any special techniques for bending that might be unique to this product.
Thanks in advance, Bill M
remove my-wife to reply :-)
Thanks. Thats close enough for me.
You can try soaking. I have made cowls about 2.5" diameter from 1/32" ply, and gone a little smaller on 1/64"
Biggest problems came bending very thing (about 1/6" wide) strips of
1/64" ply to form wing outlines. I did get down to 3/4" diameter curves. but most split.
Spray water on the ply and run a 300 degree clothes iron over it. The heat will drive the steam into the wood, and the ply will bend ACROSS the grain more easily than with it, since the moisture doesn't penetrate the centre plies well. I have wrapped a strip of 1/16 birch ply around a pencil using this method, although the inside veneer will wrinkle a bit at that tiny radius. Get an old iron. If you use your wife's, you'll be buying her another. The resins from the wood will stain it. Dan
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required