Bending Birch

[IraRat]

All understand--so I'm hand sanding. (Yeah--I meant to say belt sander.) Gotta work with what I have and can't see buying another tool for this. Remember that whore of a sink I saw at Lowes? I'm gonna need that too soon.

I got you on the finished side. The smooth side is the visible side to be sanded and varnished. But one of my concerns is that since Im using a certain varish on my interior skins, that are also birch, doesn't it make sense to use that same varnish for the roof? Also, 3 coats didn't darken yours? Three coats REALLY darkened my exterior skins.

Well, one step at a time. I can't wait to get these spars up, because at least they will also help hold my weather tarp stay up a lot better!

[Chris C]

IraRat, finish effects different kinds of wood different ways. If, for example, I were to put a clear polyurethane finish on Birch, it will darken the Birch only slightly...........toward a warmer or yellow color. However, if I put it on a Luan (generic name for a wood in the Mahogany family) it will darken it appreciably more, and make it much much warmer, tending to go to the red colors.

[TomS]

All understand--so I'm hand sanding. (Yeah--I meant to say belt sander.) Gotta work with what I have and can't see buying another tool for this. Remember that whore of a sink I saw at Lowes? I'm gonna need that too soon.

Ugh, I hate hand sanding. I bet if you look around you can find a cheap sheet sander for $30 or less. I've got an old Myata sheet sander in my tool box. It's not nearly as fast as the orbital sander. But it'll get the job done.

I got you on the finished side. The smooth side is the visible side to be sanded and varnished. But one of my concerns is that since Im using a certain varish on my interior skins, that are also birch, doesn't it make sense to use that same varnish for the roof? Also, 3 coats didn't darken yours? Three coats REALLY darkened my exterior skins.

After you cut your skins, use the waste piece to test the varnish you plan to use. Put a couple of coats on it. Check it for color and bend it to see if it cracks. Even before applying my spar urethane, I noticed a color difference between my natural birch sides and the bending birch. The sides were darker and more red than the bending birch. Either way, the test piece will give you and idea of what to expect.

Well, one step at a time. I can't wait to get these spars up, because at least they will also help hold my weather tarp stay up a lot better!

It's a huge pcycological boost to see those roof spars go up.

I insulated my roof today. Tomorrow, I start working on my cabin cabinets.

[IraRat]

Tom, Duh...thanks for reminding me about doing the test piece! I did that for my exterior skins, but being the old fart that I am, I would have forgotten to do it here too!

I love the brilliant gloss you got using the thane (that's my new abbreviation for it), and why does the roof exactly have to match the sides anyway?

Anyway, I hope that Chris Boulter doesn't mortgage the store from Vegas before those pieces get here.

[TomS]

Ira,

This should take care of any lingering doubts you may have about bending Bending Birch.



Oh by the way, there are 3 coats of Spar Urethane on the inside of that bend..

[DestinDave]

WOW

That's bendy.....

[IraRat]

Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!! Now I'm REALLY excited!!!

And I'm going to have a whole extra piece just to PLAY with!!!

I have a feeling that me and my younger son wil be playing fort soon.........

[lmh222]

WOW that stuff is so cool! I drove 4 hours to Boulter Plywood (my mother also happens to live about an hour away from there so I multi-tasked and visited mom too). I bought the Okume marine-grade 1/8". I decided to go with marine-grade instead of flexible because I don't have too tight of a curve.

I did buy an extra piece though and wouldn't you know it - I was pulling one of the pieces of Okume out from under a piece of Luan and I snapped the Okume! At $40 per sheet I was not happy.



It turned out that the break was only about 3 feet in from the end though so I was able to use the 5ft piece for the galley hatch - Fhew, nice save! I just kept thinking over and over that I was SOOOO glad that I got the extra sheet even if it was just for the peace of mind.

That bendable stuff is awesome though!

~Lindsey

[IraRat]

I was pulling one of the pieces of Okume out from under a piece of Luan and I snapped the Okume!

What do you mean, Lindsey? Did you break it near a piece of luan that was already in the tear? Just curious how you broke it!

[lmh222]

I stacked all of the sheets of plywood in my garage. I think that I had about 10 sheets total. The Okoume was under 4 or 5 sheets of Luan. I thought that I could just pull the Okoume out from under the luan rather than move all of the luan sheets. It was a few weeks ago so I don't even remember exactly what I did that made it crack. I just remember the CRACK sound.

Even though it turned out that I was able to use the cracked piece anyway, I realized how easily accidents do happen and it re-assured me that I was right in getting an extra piece. I would have been REALLY upset if I had to drive another 4 hours just to get 1 more piece.

Lindsey

[JasonTX]

I know this post is nearly a year old, but I just called this Boulter Plywood and was quoted a price of $34.00 a sheet for 1/8" plus $175 for shipping. I'm just curious as to how the shipping to Florida was $30 and now the big jump to $175. I also read that the owner took a trip to Vegas so maybe that'll explain the increase in shipping. I'll keep searching for another source.

[bg]

Jason,

Look for "Fort Worth Plywood" in Fort Worth.

[JasonTX]

Jason,

Look for "Fort Worth Plywood" in Fort Worth.

Thank you very much. Just a short 2 hour drive and the price is right. $20.80 per sheet for bendable birch. They have plenty in stock.

[Finntec]

I used 1/8" Itailan birch from Syracuse Forest Products. All the sheets were good except for the one I used on the inside. It had a void that cracked after it was installed. I didnt think it was too bad until I put the finish on. Then it really stood out. I think a shelf will go there now. In the future I will shine a bright light through the wood to check for voids.
[img]http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=7873[img][/img]

[oklahomajewel]

Here in Oklahoma City, I called the other day to Hope Lumber (well, actually they're in Edmond) and they can get me BenderBoard , bendy plywood for about $11 a sheet. They get it in a day or two, maybe overnight. 1/8" 4x8. I didn't ask about the bending direction or if it was birch or whatever.....

EDIT 000000000 I called this week, July 5th and it's not $11 , more like $32 per sheet, and she said it only bends lengthwise. I'll check w/ Ft worth.

julie