I’m designing a Greene & Greene/craftsman inspired sofa to be made from either white oak or mahogany/sepele. I want to introduce a light curve in the crest, front and back rails with a radius of 255 inches (3 inches over 78 inches). The three options are, of course, laminating, sawing, or steaming (or design change). These pieces will be 6-8/4 x 4″-6.” I’ve never bent anything this thick or long. Laminating is undesirable for aesthetic purposes (at least for the crest rail). Sawing would require beginning with a massive pieces of wood with huge waste.
Thanks for your ideas.
Reg
Replies
Reg,
How about making the radius out of multiple segments then sawing curve out. You wouldn't need that massive of a piece to start with then.
Tim
Hi Tim -- I gather you mean to sort of 'pyramid' segments to follow the radius. That's one form of lamination (I had been contemplating a bent lamination). The pyramid method would seem likely to expose at least a few glue lines on the face where you transition from one piece of stock to the next along the radius. As difficult as it may be to do a 78" long lamination, I'd rather have the top of the rail be where laminations show themselves. Thanks for the though -- I'll mull it over!!
Hey Reg... a couple glue-lines/butt joints would be a compensation to using this method to save some wood, even if you were careful with cut placement and grain flow. Depending on the wood and grain, it may or may not be as noticeable. I'd say give the bent lamination a try. It will have a more continuous look! And use a glue close in color with the wood. Good luck!! -Tim
Wondering if plywood with edge banding would give you the look you want and save on cost as far as waste. wouldn't be 6/4 but would appear to be a solid piece expect to the trained eye
Hi sknight13602,
This is for a Craftsman/Greene & Greene style sofa, so, I think plywood is not in the offing.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled