Bent plywood can be used to give furniture and cabinets a sleek, sleek look. The easiest way to bend plywood is to use clamps and molds made of medium density fiberboard or MDF (medium density fiberboard), or use rachet straps. If you want to get a stronger and more sturdy curve, you can glue a few sheets of plywood so that the bent piece is thicker. Whichever method you choose, you should still allow sufficient time for the plywood to warp properly.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Bending Plywood Using a Mold
Step 1. Make a mold from MDF board
Draw curves using a pencil on a sheet of MDF board to serve as a plywood mold. Cut the MDF board with a band saw. Trace the shape you have created onto some other MDF sheet that will be used as a template. You'll need to use several sheets of plank so that the height of the mold is the same as the width of the plywood you want to bend. Glue all the MDF sheets using glue to finish the mold.
- MDF boards can be found at hardware or hardware stores.
- Don't forget to wear safety glasses when you use a sit-down saw.
Step 2. Clamp the plywood to the mold using a bar clamp (long clamp)
Place the plywood sheet on top of the curved mold. Place one end of the bar clamp on the far side of the mold, and the other end of the clamp on the outside, facing inward (towards the plywood) and directly opposite it. Turn the clamp handle clockwise to secure the plywood to the mold. Continue adding clamps until the plywood is tightly squeezed along the entire length of the mold.
- Be sure to clamp the ends and the center of the plywood to be bent.
- If there is still a gap between the plywood and the mold, tighten the clamps holding it together.
Step 3. Let the plywood stick to the mold for one night
This time duration is sufficient to make the plywood bend under the pressure of the clamps. Be patient when you get to this point. If the clamps are removed too early, the bend created in the plywood may return to its original shape.
Step 4. Remove the clamps holding the mold and plywood
Turn the clamp handle counterclockwise to loosen and remove the clamp. After all the clamps are removed, take out the plywood attached to the mold.
Step 5. Test the bent plywood by hand
Try bending the ends of the plywood carefully to check if the plywood returns straight or remains curved. Turn the plywood over so that it rests on both ends, then press it against the center of the wood with your hands. If the bend doesn't hold, re-clamp the plywood to the MDF molding.
If the bend doesn't hold up (back straight), try adding a new sheet of plywood to the previous layer of plywood and attaching it with glue, then clamping the plywood back in the mold. Thick plywood will be easier to bend
Method 2 of 2: Using Ratchet Straps
Step 1. Prepare a ratchet strap equipped with an S-shaped hook
This rope which is also known as the goods strap is a nylon rope equipped with a hook at each end. In the middle of the rope there is a ratchet that can be used to tighten the rope. Make sure you use a rope that has an S-shaped hook so that it can be attached to the plywood.
- Ratchet straps can be found online or at hardware/building stores.
- Read the strap packaging to see if it has an S-shaped hook inside.
Step 2. Attach the S hook to the opposite end of the plywood
Position the hook in the center on the end of the plywood you hooked on. Do this while the plywood sheet is still flat so the S hooks don't come off. Once the hook is in place, the ratchet strap will move down into the center of the plywood, with the ratchet between the two S-shaped hooks.
You may need to attach the strap to one of the hooks via the ratchet so that the two sides of the strap are connected
Step 3. Secure the straps using a ratchet until the plywood bends in the shape you want
To tighten the strap using a ratchet, lift and lower the ratchet handle repeatedly. Each time the ratchet handle is lifted, the string tightens. Continue lifting and lowering the ratchet handle until the plywood bends to the desired curve.
Step 4. Let the plywood curl with this ratchet strap for one night
After leaving it for one night, remove the ratchet strap. To remove it, lift the ratchet handle, then pull it back until it is flush with the strap. You will hear a click and the ratchet will continue to open. Remove the S-shaped hook attached to the end of the plywood.
Step 5. Test the bent plywood
Place the bent plywood on a flat surface until the edges stick together. Press the center of the plywood bend by hand to check if the sheet is straight. If the bend doesn't hold, put the ratchet strap back on and let it sit for a while. You can also add a few more sheets of plywood to the bent wood and glue it, then use clamps to secure it. The more sheets of plywood, the stronger the bend.
