Bending Interior ceiling 1/4" Birch

[myerxa]

I have a 17.5 " radius and am woodering about bending the ply as it is 1/4" any help wood be swell

[Rigsby]

If you know anyone with a sauna, take the wood in with you for a couple of hours to soften it up then screw it at one end and slowly form it and hold it in place with numerous straps

[Woodbutcher]

That is a tight bend with 1/4" unless you get bending stock or at minimum use baltic birch. It would be much easier to use 2 1/8th pieces and stagger the joints.

[Gage]

1/4" is over kill and not necessary besides being a pain in the _____ to form. 1/8" works great and is all that is really needed for the ceiling. So you need to rethink what your doing and do you really need 1/4". If you have to use 1/4", then give it the old soak treatment for a day or two. It should bend easy then.

[Noob]

If you know anyone with a sauna...

.... or a steam-room.

.
.
.

[myerxa]

Thanks to all, I just could'nt come on to any 1/8" at my HD or Menards so after your advice I may have to look deeper in the woods for some...

[Gage]

Thanks to all, I just could'nt come on to any 1/8" at my HD or Menards so after your advice I may have to look deeper in the woods for some...

If I was you, I'd stay away from the Big Box Stores for any of their plywood. It's all junk. Places to look for quality ply is at lumber stores, Custom Cabinet stores or Custom Door & Sash store. Sometimes it will cost a little more but in the end you'll be happy with the direction you took. Also if they don't have what you want, chances are they will order it for you.

[Classic Finn]

If you know anyone with a sauna...

.... or a steam-room.

.
.
.

You know of anyone with a Sauna? I do. Yup I bent our ply for our tear in a Sauna here at home. Worked real nicely.

From the Land of Saunas.

[synaps3]

First semester of college, we barricaded the doors to the community shower, and cranked all the showers on max heat. We made a sauna.

I miss that sauna.

[asianflava]

I'm with Gage on this. I read the title and said to myself, "Really? 1/4 for the interior? Really?"

I used 1/8in baltic Birch in mine. As a matter of fact, I used 1/8in ply everywhere except for the hatch spars.

[myerxa]

Found some 5 x 5 baltic birch finished both sides 1/8 real wood core for 13.00+ ea, At the local planing mill/ cabinet/ door/ molding place. thanks for turning my Head....

[Kevin & Sandy]

I tried the big box stores, I tried local lumber yards (not many left) and noone wanted to try to get me any 1/8 inch stuff. The only 1/8 I could find was not what I wanted to use. (masonite)

I used 1/4, I put it on top of the TD and tied it down with straps for a few days trying to get it to get used to being bent, tightening the straps every once in a while. It did crack and creak a little going in, but I think the prebending helped. My radius was prolly not as tight as yours either though.

[Miriam C.]

I tried the big box stores, I tried local lumber yards (not many left) and noone wanted to try to get me any 1/8 inch stuff. The only 1/8 I could find was not what I wanted to use. (masonite)

I used 1/4, I put it on top of the TD and tied it down with straps for a few days trying to get it to get used to being bent, tightening the straps every once in a while. It did crack and creak a little going in, but I think the prebending helped. My radius was prolly not as tight as yours either though.

Most places won't or can't get 1/8 Birch, they have to get Baltic Birch and you have to be careful because it can have football repairs in it. Some really hot water or steam will get most things to bend.

[Lou Park]

About 2 hours south of you is a store called Alpine Plywood on the south end of Milwaukee. they have everything you need. Give them a call and see if they have another store near you or a recommendation. This store has 1/8" ply's, 4x10"s 5x10's but you have to call ahead to see what is in stock.
Lou

[sagebrush]

Was at local Menards today and saw they had 1/4 birch plywood on sale. Actual thickness was barely over 3/16, 3 ply with THIN birch veneer Seemed flexible enough so took some to shop. Clamped 2x4 across trailer toung next to front of body. Set a sheet on end between 2x4 and front of floor and flopped (honest) it over top of trailer. Plywood followed walls around to within 8" at back edge. I laid a 2x8 across trailer and a 40# bag of pellets on that ,flatening ply down oh-so nice. I know 1/4 (3/16) is overkill but $22 seems a lot better than $45+special order for 1/8. Am I right? Am I wrong? I dunno. Will