Wood may warp when exposed to hot and humid air. However, warped wood can be re-leveled by wetting and heating the opposite side of the curved wood. By doing this, the curved wood will be straight and level again. If the wood is slightly warped, you can flatten it with just heat and water. However, if the curvature of the wood is severe, you may need to press the wood.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using an Iron
Step 1. Wrap the wood with a wet towel
Wet a few large towels. After that, wrap all the wood with the towel.
- The towels used must be large enough to cover all parts of the wood. Choose a towel or cloth that is heat resistant.
- When wetting the towel, soak the towel in water and then wring it out. Remember, the towel should not be too wet.
Step 2. Place the towel-wrapped wood on the surface of the ironing board
Place the towel-wrapped wood on an ironing board or other flat surface. The curved part of the wood should face up.
- The inside of the arch should face down.
- The surface used for ironing wood must be sturdy. In addition, the surface must also be heat resistant.
Step 3. Heat the iron to the highest temperature
Turn on the steam iron and select the highest temperature.
- Let the iron heat up for 2-5 minutes.
- Make sure you use a steam iron. A regular iron is not a good option.
Step 4. Press the iron on the curved part of the wood
Press the iron against the curved side of the wood. Slide the iron over the entire surface of the wood while continuing to press the curved part of the wood.
- Hold the iron for 5-10 seconds at each point then repeat on the other surface.
- Each point should overlap slightly so that the entire wood surface is level.
- Make sure you always keep an eye on the iron that is on. If left unattended, the iron can burn towels and wood.
Step 5. Repeat if necessary
Try to observe the state of the wood gradually. When you are satisfied with the result, stop ironing the wood. If the wood is still warping, repeat this process until the wood is flat again.
- Once the wood is flat again, turn off the iron and then remove the towel from the wood. Allow the wood to dry before reuse.
- This method may be less effective if the bend of the wood is severe. If after 2-3 tries the wood is still warping, you may need to try another method.
Method 2 of 3: Using Sunlight
Step 1. Wrap the wood with a wet towel
Wet a few large towels. After that, wrap the wood with the towel.
- You can use towels, sheets, or cloth. Make sure the material used can absorb water and is large enough to cover all parts of the wood.
- Wet a towel with running water and wring it out so it doesn't get too wet. Remember, the towel used should be damp and not too wet when wrapping the wood.
Step 2. Put the wood in direct sunlight
Place the towel-wrapped wood in the sun during the day. The inside of the wooden arch should face down and the outward-facing part of the arch should face up.
- You can place a tarp under the wood to prevent dripping water from soaking the area around the wood.
- This method is very effective when applied in sunny weather. However, this method is not suitable when the weather is cold, cloudy, or rainy.
- For maximum results, place the wood on a solid surface, such as concrete or a table. You can place the wood in the yard, but the process may be less effective because the wood is on a soft surface.
Step 3. Spray the wood with water if necessary
Depending on how badly bent the wood is, you may need to leave the wood in the sun for 2-4 days. Spray a towel with water while the wood is drying to keep it moist.
- Remember, the towel should not be too wet.
- The sun's rays will heat the wood and cause it to absorb moisture from the towels. When moisture soaks into the wood surface, the wood will flatten again and the bend will disappear.
Step 4. Dry the wood that has not warped
This process will take a few days, depending on how badly bent the wood is. Therefore, check the wood every day. When the wood is no longer bent, remove the towel and let the wood dry.
- At night, put wood into the house. Place the wood in a warm area until morning. Make sure the inside of the wooden arch is facing down.
- If after a few days the wood is still warping, you may need to try another method.
Method 3 of 3: Using Pressure
Step 1. Wrap the wood with a damp paper towel
Wet a few paper towels with water and lay them on the inside surface of the wooden arch.
- Paper towels are a good option. Alternatively, you can use light towels or plain paper. The material used must be wetted first and the size must be large enough.
- Wet a paper towel with water and then wring it out gently. Paper towels should be damp and not too wet when placed on a wooden surface.
- Glue wet paper towels only on the inside of the wooden arch. By doing this, the wood will bend to its original position and eventually flatten again. The inside of the wooden arch will absorb more water. Meanwhile, the outside of the arch will dry.
Step 2. Wrap the wood that has been wrapped in a towel with plastic
Use plastic to wrap the entire towel and wood. The plastic should wrap around the wood and the towel tightly.
- The plastic will slow down the evaporation process so the towels and wood will stay moist for a long time.
- Make sure the plastic covers all of the wood, not just the part that's covered in paper towels.
Step 3. Clamp the wood with clamps
Clamp the wood using clamps. Tighten the clamp firmly until the curved piece of wood begins to straighten.
Be careful when tightening the clamps. If the clamps are tightened too tightly, the wood may break instead of flattening again
Step 4. Leave it for 1 week
Leave the wood clamped for 1 week. Make sure the wood is placed in a warm place.
- Check the wood regularly. Remove the clamps if the wood is damaged.
- The area where the wood is stored should be warm enough for the first week. Ideally, the area should be 65°C. However, if it's too difficult, you can place wood in the hottest room of your house.
- You can heat the wood with sunlight, a heating lamp, or a heating blanket. Allow the wood to heat for 6-8 hours each day.
Step 5. Remove the towel and plastic
After a week, remove any attached clamps, plastic, and paper towels.
- After that, allow the wood to dry completely.
- Check the arch of the wood. If the wood is no longer bent, the wood can be used again after it dries. The wood does not need to be clamped anymore.
Step 6. Add pressure
If the wood is still warping, clamp the wood back with clamps and let it dry for 2-3 weeks.
- Wood can be placed in cooler temperatures. The ideal temperature for this stage is 25°C.
- The air should not be damp during this stage. Do not place wood in a damp room.
Step 7. Check the wood regularly
Once all the wood is dry, you can remove the clamps and use the wood again.
