tips on bending balsa wood into an arch...

[EngenZerO]

as the topic states...anyone have any good tips.

I have read that one should let it soak in water for a few days or boil it for a bit in a shallow pan. Then bend slowly around a circular surface and apply presure to the top curve. This is for the famous bridge building excercise for engineering class, .

any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[jurzdevil]

soak it in water

 

[Freeze]

Very Carefully.

Sorry, no useful tips...

 

[aircooled]

steam and slow bending
edit: even Norm Abram breaks a few....

 

[Shockwave]

Either steam and bend or make small cuts (Not all the way through!) even X distance depending on the curve needed. Essentially score it with a razor to make a "hinge". Works for MDF, *might* work for balsa.

**EDIT**

Heres an example

 

[akodi]

i remember in wood class back in the day steamed it

 

[Bleep]

It depends on how thick a piece you are talking about. If thin just take the side which you want inside the curve and rubbing it real hard with a dowel will compress the fibers on that side causing a natural curve. Also the cut of the wood has a lot to do with it a C cut will not ever bend. Also just a spritz of warm water on the outside of the curve will expand the fibers on that side causing it to curve away from that side.

Bleep