I am trying to create a small balsa wood bridge to hold upwards of 20 lbs (top loaded). The design calls for two parallel arches (per plane truss); one with a radius of six inches, the other a radius of four inches. I'm limited to 0.125"x0.125"X36" strips. While I've already constructed a jig, I have not found a decent method of softening the wood to a point where it can manage this extreme bend without snapping. I've tried steaming and soaking with no success.
2006-11-04 08:40:02 · 0 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Soak the strips in very hot water (I use a crock pot set on high) for at least 30 minutes. Allow the wood to cool only enough to handle.
This method works with very tight parallel wood grain strips. Diagonal grain strips will snap.
For thinner (1/16 inch) strips, steaming works well. See the site below. You might want to consider cutting your strips in half and steaming.
Another solution (if permissible) is to form the arches out of pieces of balsa using glue using standard construction techniques (shave one edge to give slightly triangular pieces).
2006-11-04 08:53:50 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 70⤊ 1⤋
Balsa Wood Strips
2016-10-07 00:13:39 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How To Bend Balsa Wood
2016-12-12 19:10:50 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you use laminated strips? If you can, try soaking 4 pieces of 1/32" balsa and then laminating them together over your form. The thinner balsa will bend easier than the 1/8" will. Use thinned white glue to glue the strips together. When you are finished, you should end up with a .125" x .125" piece.
I've used this method to build parts for model planes. The thinned glue soaks into the wet balsa very well and makes a strong structure.
Good luck.
2006-11-04 10:00:09 · answer #4 · answered by Jeff M 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you are planning to start on your woodworking project, this isn't something you should use, it's something that you would be insane not to. Go here https://tr.im/C682G
Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.
2016-02-11 09:50:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The last time I had to do this for a project, we let them soak for several minutes. You have to be very careful handling the wood though.
2006-11-04 08:43:31 · answer #6 · answered by heatlaws 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
heat it an oven in water and bend it around something round tying it as you go let dry and it will be bent
2016-03-22 20:16:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://msxml.excite.com/info.xcite/search/web/bend%2Bbalsa%2Bwood
2006-11-04 09:44:51 · answer #8 · answered by tronary 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋