Bending Plywood

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

Bending Plywood

Postby ezbie » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:29 pm

I am to the point where I am ready to start covering/skinning the curved framed areas of my TD. The side walls are 3/4 birch plywood. the rest is framed with 3/4" by 2 1/2" framing. I have 1/4" birch plywood (from Lowe's I know chi-ply) I am concerned about getting it to bend to my frount radius which is a two foot radius curve. Do you thing I will have a problem? Should I consider something more ply-able? Are there any tricks to making the ply conform to what I want it to do? I will have pictures of my progress up by this weekend.
Dont F*ck with Mr Yuck!!!
User avatar
ezbie
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 33
Images: 42
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:31 pm

Postby Boodro » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:53 pm

EZ ,are ya putting this 1/4 on the outside or inside ? If its too stiff , maybe try bending to layers of 1/8 inch . Do ya really need 1/4 inch ? Usually the inside skin is 1/8 & the outer base is 1/8 , then 1/8 or 1/4 finished skin. Good luck! :thumbsup:
We are all travelers in this world , from the sweet grass to the packin house , birth till death , we travel between the eternities . ( Robert Duvall as Prentiss Ritter)
User avatar
Boodro
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1052
Images: 101
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 9:35 pm
Location: Sylvania, Ohio

Postby mikeschn » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:01 pm

I agree with Boodro...

And 1/4" IS too stiff.

You'll have to get 1/8" luan to make that bend.

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top

Postby asianflava » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:28 pm

If you need 1/4" just double up on the 1/8"
User avatar
asianflava
8000 Club
8000 Club
 
Posts: 8412
Images: 45
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 5:11 am
Location: CO, Longmont
Top

Postby Gage » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:30 pm

I agree with what has just been said. You don't need 1/4 ply for your skin. Inside or out, it is plenty strong when it has a curve to it. You'll never get the 1/4" to form without a lot of extra work and a few choice words. :? I used 1/8" and laid it out with out any help.

Image

Have a good day.

8)
Image Image Image
Remember 'Teardrop Time'.......Take your time, you don't have to have it finished NOW.
User avatar
Gage
8000 Club
8000 Club
 
Posts: 8321
Images: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 9:14 pm
Location: Palmdale, CA
Top

Postby ezbie » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:42 pm

Thanks for the info. Thats kinda what I figured. Lowes didnt have anything but there are many other luber yards to check around here. I will get 1/8 luan.
Dont F*ck with Mr Yuck!!!
User avatar
ezbie
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 33
Images: 42
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:31 pm
Top

Postby rainjer » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:33 am

ezbie wrote:Thanks for the info. Thats kinda what I figured. Lowes didnt have anything but there are many other luber yards to check around here. I will get 1/8 luan.


Look for 1/8 Baltic Birch. It comes in 5 x 5 sheets.
User avatar
rainjer
King Koleman
 
Posts: 2092
Images: 11
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:38 pm
Location: Everett, WA
Top

Postby Larwyn » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:44 am

I used 1/4" luan for the outside skin. Cant really tell you the radius as it is an elipse but the bottom frount is very tight. I secured the bottom edge steamed the luan with a clothing steamer and slowly pulled it into place with ratchet straps. If I were to do it again I think I would try one of the "easier" ways, like one or two layers of 1/8" stock....I did this without help. Others showed up for beer after the cussing stopped........... :beer: :beer:
Larwyn

Keeper of the Most Out Of Control Shop (2005)

I feel bad for the man that cannot spell a word more than one way. Mark Twain
User avatar
Larwyn
Mad Kilted Texan
 
Posts: 1658
Images: 210
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2004 12:06 pm
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Top

Postby Gage » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:48 am

My roof is 1/8" birch, 3/4" foam and then another 1/8" birch. A person weighing over 200 lbs has been on the roof to fix an ezup and no problem. Oh, my cross bracing are 1x2's laying flat and spaced about 14" apart. Jus a little added infomation.

Have a good day.

8)
Oh and I didn't know this person got up on the tear. I would of had a heart attact. But it was a good test of strength.
Image Image Image
Remember 'Teardrop Time'.......Take your time, you don't have to have it finished NOW.
User avatar
Gage
8000 Club
8000 Club
 
Posts: 8321
Images: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 9:14 pm
Location: Palmdale, CA
Top

Postby surveytech » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:45 am

I used 1/4 inch luan ply for my roof and hatch and found it bent quite easily around a 24 inch radius. I did notice quite a difference however in the ply from Home Depot versus Lowes. The 1/4 in ply at Lowes was consideralby stiffer than that at Home Depot.
Pull some sheets off the rack and try giving them a bend and see what you think. Be sure to try to bend it along the 4 foot side too. Bending along the 8 foot side just isnt going to happen.
I wound up with two seams in my roof. Hence the bondo in the pic.
hope this helps.
Walter
Image
surveytech
Donating Member
 
Posts: 776
Images: 6
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:13 pm
Location: kissimmee, florida
Top

Postby doug hodder » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:51 am

Just my opinion, but if you already have the ply..go ahead and use it...I got 1/4" to work the way I wanted with no big issue....use some straps to suck it down to the frame, It will bend a lot easier in 1 direction, and it isn't as easy as 1/8" you don't need 1/4"...but since you have it, you can make it work...I know I have.... :thumbsup: Doug
doug hodder
*Snoop Dougie Doug
 
Posts: 12625
Images: 562
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:20 pm
Top

Postby asianflava » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:35 am

Gage wrote:[b][i][color=darkblue]My roof is 1/8" birch, 3/4" foam and then another 1/8" birch. A person weighing over 200 lbs has been on the roof to fix an ezup and no problem. Oh, my cross bracing are 1x2's laying flat and spaced about 14" apart. Jus a little added infomation.


Mine is the same except I went 12" on center. I used poplar for the cross braces.
User avatar
asianflava
8000 Club
8000 Club
 
Posts: 8412
Images: 45
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 5:11 am
Location: CO, Longmont
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests