The end of hot bending sides?

[Nick]

Could this method or product make bending sides a thing of the past?

[Allen]

Pretty interesting stuff. Especially the drum section. Don't think that I'll be going out a buying an industrial micro-wave though.

[Localele]

Simple answer is NO.

[WaddyT]

I didn't watch all the videos, but it looks a lot like a product I saw at the woodworking show in NC a couple of years ago. The product is called Bendy Wood. The process includes heat and pressure, but the wood is compressed, lengthwise, so the cells are crushed into each other, and, sort of, overlap each other. The result is a piece of wood that can be bent double by hand, and it holds it's shape after bending, with no springback. I would assume, though that it has no structural uses, only decorative, as if put under stress, it will bend.



When I saw it, I was thinking more along the lines of solid linings, but, alas, the stuff is really pricey. It's cheaper to bend with heat.

[Nick]

That is pretty much the same thing as this system by the sound of it Waddy, in the DW drum vid he does say that the wood is wet, gone through it's compression process then formed, it's then cooked for 4 days (held at a steady temp to dry the moisture out) after which it will hold it's new shape for ever......apparently. If a reputable company such as DW drums are using it to produce one of their snare drums it can't be all bad.

Localele-I don't think it will replace heat bending sides either (more due to cost of producing the stuff and types of wood available) on such a small scale that we use but just found the concept interesting.

[Mongrel]

Ammonia gas apparently turns wood so flexible that you can just about tie it in knots, so I've heard. Then when you remove the ammonia it sets in that position.
Shame about the toxicity factor thou...

I wonder if it would affect the tonal qualities of the wood, you are making it more dense after all

[WaddyT]

I think the difference is, that Bendywood, is not purported to be applicable for structural uses, but more for furniture and decorative interior applications. They have lots of pictures of curved hand rails, curved stair lips and aprons, etc. Most of the stuff is smaller than the 2x6 application in the original post. This stuff is treated, then is bendable at room temp, by hand, and it stays where you put it, until you un-bend it, which you can do. It is very good for table banding for odd shapes. Check out their website - www.bendywood.com