Bending Balsa Wood Sheets

Special methods for bending balsa wood may not be necessary if the curve is a gentle one and the radius is large.

Bending balsa wood sheets.

Bending the wood against the grain will result in uneven bend and also cracking. My previous video ht. Home balsa wood balsa sheets 24 sheets. Anything can be the former.

This video will be very useful for you if your making a model or some sculpture etc. The wood may conform easily. We are happy to help. Or call 413 277 9500 8 30am 4pm est.

Strength balsa is strongest when the grain runs the length of the wood. You can get a bend radius of as little as two feet by bending 1 4 inch plywood whereas the minimum bend radius for 3 4 inch plywood is 12 feet. I use a small bowl with a cup of water or so and a tablespoon of ammonia. The video tells how to bend balsa using household ammonia many modelers have had a lot of difficulty bending balsa or hardwood by using this technique ther.

For more complex or tighter curves however use some. Include your email address to get a. To form sheet balsa first i have the sheet to near net size. This video is showing you how to bend balsa wood.

Find a jar can or a mailing tube to form the sheet around. Economy it s cheaper to make a wingtip out of a strip of balsa than to use up a much larger sheet of balsa and having to discard the bulk of it. Balsa wood is often the wood of choice when a woodworking project involves curves that require the wood to be bent. The bend radius is a measure of the size of the circle you would draw if you complete the semi circle formed by the curvature of the wood a smaller bend radius denotes sharper curvature.

Finish sanding with the grain produces a smoother surface. If you want to bend it a lot you ll have to secure it while it s bent to keep it bent.