Making a curvy board

[@joshwilson7736]

When I was a kid we had straight boards and we were glad to have them!

[@Van_Der_Lay_Industries]

+Josh Wilson Your were lucky. All I had was a piece of ripped up cardboard.

[@sylasviper715]

I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth.

[@CannonRoadPilot]

straight boards, cardboard, plastic spoons, all to yourselves?! Gee you all had it easy. Back when i was a lad we had just a corner torn off from the postman's handkerchief , and that was shared between my 12 siblings and the neighbours too!

[@censusgary]

When I was a kid, we just had a couple of handfuls of dirt to play with. We were luckier than our neighbors, who only had mud ...

[@josephaumann849]

Good one :)

[@BigBlack81]

Yet again, you push the boundaries of what can be achieved in a small shop and inspire me to get off my lazy butt and work. Kudos again!

[@bokchoiman]

"let me explain that with some literature" -brilliant line

[@MegaMetinMetin]

Catburger kek

[@user-nu-naher-nu-ty-videl]

"Вставай, агроном" - сказал мент, спящему на скамейке студенту с книгой "Теория поля".

[@censusgary]

That's a nicely curved board. I was going to ask what people use curvy boards for, but then I saw the link to the views of your nephews playing with the one you made. Fun!

[@eddraper]

I think you've got my nomination for the coolest uncle ever. As the kids get older they'll have some much to learn from you. When they're adults, they'll get to see the care and thought you put into their safety and comfort when they were young. I wish I would've had an uncle like that.

[@ahbushnell1]

you need more clamps

[@makishizi]

Aw hell no!

[@acme663ryo]

Absolutely! That is why I started to take mine into the workshop when he was still an infant. It required some sacrifices in what I could do, some stuff/dust I didn't want him around for but 2 years later it has still been a great experience. He still sleeps with the first board I handed him to sand for me.

[@Whitpusmc]

I am onto you, the woodworking is just a dodge so you can hoard clamps....

[@Deuxex78]

No se si entiendes español, pero quiero decirte que sos un genio y agradecerte profundamente por compartir tu experiencia y conocimientos. Eso habla de la persona que sos. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

[@julianadams5753]

For years I’ve been thinking about making a piano case to house my electronic piano, which I want to house in a grand-piano case. Your video gives me some ideas. Only, I think I’d have to mortgage the house to buy enough clamps. Steinway (and others) does essentially what you have done, using thin laminations, much glue, and one hell of a clamping jig.

[@dozer1642]

I counted five hundred and seventy three clamps. You have a serious clamp problem.

[@dozer1642]

....the kids have an imagination surplus.

[@user-ri4hy1qw4l]

you have a serious counting problem

[@dozer1642]

Evan Erickson you have a troll problem.

[@user-ri4hy1qw4l]

dozer1642 pranked

[@BretHall]

The only way you can have a clamp problem is if you run out of clamps! :)

[@OneCanisLupus]

LoL! Love all the clamps! There is another way you could do this if your making multiple pieces. You'll need a one inch thick piece of plywood and some one inch dowels. Mark the outer diameter of your arc on the plywood then add 1/2inch to that outer diameter and mark it again. The second mark is where the holes for the dowels will go. Mark the inner diameter of your arc "thickness of your board you want to bend". Then subtract 1/2 inch from that mark for the inner diameter dowels holes. Cut the dowels to the height of your curved board plus 1inch. Drill the dowel holes for the dowels where you want them, glue them into the holes and you now have a mold. Should work great for the thin 3mm board you where using. This method can be used to make some interesting designs. I usually use a steam box for thicker cut boards but never with plywood.

[@zobook]

When i was a kid i got a toy bike, one with a heavy back wheel that gets propelled with a toothed strip. I never use that much, but i made like 10 vehicles for the removable plastic pilot using just cardboard and glue. Thanks mom and dad for let me play with scissors and cutters!!

[@dbeanmail]

Another fine excuse to buy more clamps!

[@barryfields2964]

You can never have enough clamps

[@juliyasakal5103]

for me to lol

[@learnerlearns]

the correct expression is "You can't have too many clamps." Think about it. Obviously, you can have enough if you have enough to get the job done. So it makes no sense to say, " You can never have enough."

[@kosinskiarek]

Believe it or not i still have some clamps left over" hahah :)

[@OllyParryJones]

I do like your concept of creating a basic curve without having to construct a former.

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Great video Matthias, I learned a few things I may use some day soon.

[@ciro1957toro]

No entiendo tu lenguaje, me gustan tus videos y trato de entenderlos. al fin arte es arte en cualquier lugar. admiro que tengas tantas pero muchas herramientas. Saludos

[@matthiaswandel]

I think if I wanted to make many curvy boards, I'd probably use this method to make an extra sturdy curvy board to then use as a form.

[@jeepnelson83]

I've checked every hardware store around me with no luck ill keep digging ill get something eventually thank u and i really enjoy your videos

[@matthiaswandel]

I thought about vacuum bags, but that 3 mm thick plywood does need clamps at least on either end to hold it down. So I don't think a vacuum bag would have worked (can you imagine trying to get the vacuum bag to pull the thin around the curve?)

[@Angus_McGyver]

I envy your clamp collection! I've played around with bent laminations, but never made anything but test pieces.

[@konradglowacki9457]

lots of clamps *cut* those layers did not cantact as well as i had hoped (20 more clamps on it). awesome vid. i like the way you approached the job, glad it worked out for you. i've tried laminating with epoxy and made the mistake of using decorative panels for the core, fell apart.

[@shamong9]

If you used longer clamping boards on each end would you get more curve? Great job.

[@matthiaswandel]

Well, it's probably not for you. But most people would be able to figure out how to click on the link in the description, or the video link at the end of the video.

[@sleepydog9968]

the man of a hundred clamps..... the hero we need, not the one we deserve....

[@efrancis19]

I'm suffering from clamp envy. Great job on a great project. Sometimes the simplest toys are the best.

[@davidborch213]

looks like the nephews are really enjoying their new toy!! Great video and explaination on how it works in the demo.

[@matthiaswandel]

Longer extensions for the straps would have been better. I'd make longer ones if I was doing it again.

[@jakecanter06]

"My nephews don't get to watch a lot of TV so they've still got their imaginations intact."

[@randyladiski3743]

That line stuck out to me as well. That's awesome

[@Robc509]

Our son is now 20 months and not watched a second of tv in his life. He’ll have plenty of time like the rest of us through his lifetime to watch as much as he wants but we’re not making a zombie just yet! We have friends who just sat their kids in front of the tv when they were young and now all they do is complain that’s all they do is sit on their phones or play computer games and they wonder why 😂

[@matthiaswandel]

It would require less tension on the band, but it would still not apply any bending moment at the ends, so I'd still have an uneven curve.

[@no1medic]

It's like Norm Abram and Macgyver had a baby . This guy is amazing .

[@lennyf1957]

your collection of clamps is almost as large as my wife’s collection of shoes. I always enjoy your videos.....Happy New Year

[@ereder4]

DAP plastic resin glue is the best thing I've used for bent lams. It has a 4 hour open time and great gap filling properties. Dries hard as glass overnight.

[@boomfiziks]

Another great video! You know you have a good product when even the adults are coming up with ways to use it.

[@briancnc]

If you do this again look into longer set glue so you have more work time. There are all ranges of glues that have working times of minutes like the yellow glue you're using and hours if needed. It allows you to be less paranoid and focus on good clamping rather than the glue drying.

[@matthiaswandel]

You will have to be more specific. The non working end is always between the tool handle and t he main body, whether it comes out the front or the back. I ended up feeding it out the back to let the strap wind better, though I may have it either in some of the segments.

[@carsonbaker]

I really like your shoes. They look comfortable. Can you tell me what kind they are?

[@jasonvanboesschoten6680]

thanks for the video. im working on building a book shelf and tv stand for my sister that has a nightmare before Christmas them and with all the odd shapes and unusual look, i knew i would have to bend wood into curves, just wasent sure how without steaming and drying.

[@raybrensike42]

If you want to glue up a true radius you can lay it out on a floor (that you can drive screws into) with a tape measure hooked to a nail, and a pencil, and make up some "L" shaped stations out of 2"x4"( with small 45 degree braces inside the "L), and again, lots of clamps.

[@woodstoney]

You're a good uncle, Matt!! A very nice and interesting project!

[@12345NoNamesLeft]

I think your bending form in the artirlc would work pretty well. Since you trimmed off width, I'd probably wood screw the laminates into the form at the midpoint of the length, in the margins you trimmed off. That way you would have less slippage and juggling when applying straps.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

An interesting demonstration. Thanks. I might be able to add something useful, as no-one seems to have mentioned it recently. By far the quickest way to apply PVA over a large surface is to thin it, slightly, with water and then use a roller. (I use a 3" paint roller.) If you need this often, put the roller in water in a jam jar and it will remain soft for weeks. Or, you can keep the roller and its arm in a plastic tub with a snap-on lid (the one you used as a glue tray in the first place.) Then again, it will keep for a long time.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

How very charming. You must, I feel, be from the colonies (i.e. the U.S.) *If* you were able to read, with some degree of comprehension, you might possibly have considered that my remark related to the application of PVA glue in general, and not necessarily to this particular gluing technique. So sorry not to have made this clear. Next time, I'll try shorter words and fewer of them, possibly aimed at a reading age of no more than a 5 year-old. *Then* you might understand. (Moron.)

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Well. well ... You're vocabulary hasn't improved, has it? Foul-mouthed *and* ignorant. Quite the winning combination. (And in case any normal person is reading this, PVA is perfectly fine on hardwood. I've used it for over 30 years, and never had any bother. Choose between the two of us, which to believe. Myself, or the charming gentleman who calls himself 'Mr. Black.' Posts blocked, from now on, as far as *I'm* concerned!)

[@daviddraggart8994]

Offshoreorganbuilder And if you look at his videos, there are WAY too many featuring young children! He probably can't get it up any more. THAT would account for his filthy mouth! Haha!

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Now, now ... let's keep this civil! (Though I won't deny ...)

[@daviddraggart8994]

MrBlack Hell! Some dogs just don't have *any* self-respect, do they?

[@sooth15]

Abosolutely, but depending on the wood being used, and the tightness of the radius, your "boards" will need to be 1/8" thick or less. We do bent laminations like this for millwork (build-ups around curved windows as an example). If it's paint grade, we use a 5/8" flexible ply, with only one nice side in either solid wood, or a 1/8" veneer. We also make thick ones for solid wood curved mouldings.

[@PBMS123]

The curve you're getting is called a cosh curve. It's the same curve a chain makes when you hang it from 2 points. The cosh curve perfectly spreads out forces, and is a very strong shape to make a vertical structure out of. This is why the St Louis Arch is a cosh curve.

[@wwegener]

I dont think the chain/force analogy ;which is due to change with gravity alignment along flexicble chain is relevant here, is it?

[@PBMS123]

@@wwegener Huh? How is it not. An inverted cosh curve (the curve a chain makes when handing under gravity) static rigid structure, perfectly transfers the forces into the ground, making it very strong, as the forces are transferred into the ground.

[@wwegener]

@@PBMS123 if you made the bent board in outer space it would have the same resulting curve! It’s all about uniform stress/strain along the board is bent

[@8wal8]

a great gift, simple to see, harder to manufacture. thank you teacher.

[@quangpham2281]

I watch some of your videos and you really do some interesting things. Keep up with the videos.

[@apinakapinastorba]

Spreading the glue with a large plastic wallpaper spatula helps a bunch. Also a PVAc glue with longer open time. Been in the glueing panic when building couple of ply drums :)

[@stevevarley5312]

I made this for the grandkids. It was larger just because it fit the pieces I had. I ended up with 5 layers of 1/8 ply. Four layers didn't pass the weight test for me and I wasn't sure about the kids. They use it all the time, constantly! It is in their living room, in their backyard, wherever they are. I was wondering how it would actually be used by kids. The answer is 'in every possible way'. They love it. Great idea! What's next years shape going to be?

[@sigurdvandewiel2846]

Steve Varley Sounds fun :) I'm curious, what are the changes of them getting a finger crushed between the board and the floor when sitting on it and rocking?

[@sigurdvandewiel2846]

Steve Varley Sounds fun :) I'm curious, what are the changes of them getting a finger crushed between the board and the floor when sitting on it and rocking?

[@stevevarley5312]

Sigurd van de Wiel From the parents "The curvy board has been awesome. I would have thought that there would have been more problems or disasters but am happy to report that they have been slim to none."

[@lilypower]

mattias if you want a circular one i have a theory, fasten it around a truck tire with a couple of straps, (the tire should have a little low on air,) then when you have fastened the straps, fill the tire again, i think that would be an even pressure! i might be wrong tho, have absolutely not ever tried something like that =P

[@pghmyn]

You made the first Wandel Birch plywood. I'm assuming it has been strategically engineered to the highest standards and will surpass any Baltic Birch.

[@brennig2]

You could either use an internal mold in the bag, or use the bag to press the plies together and use the clamps to for the shape, this would give you a perfect lamination and the shape. 3 mm Baltic Birch could easily make that radius in a bag, I think it can easily make a 50 cm radius, not sure the exact number. But as I said, you'd need a big bag, your better off with external clamps and a bag. Not sure how often you make these sorts of laminations though.

[@Lynixai]

Looks great as it is, but you could also reduce the curvature a bit, pad it with foam and put cloth over it, and you'd have a sort of rocking chair for the kids.

[@dergeneralist7106]

Don't watch too much tv, it keeps your imagination intact. Thumbs up for this!

[@harryamerio]

You are the only person I no with that amount of clamps !!! :-) another great video !

[@sajidullah]

This guy is a fine wood worker

[@userunavailable3095]

I applaud your sister. Mine doesn't get to watch TV either. It produces a very different kid.

[@JohnnyNCindy]

I guess as a toy it doesn’t need to be a perfect curve. I do this all the time and I usually build a jig by attaching blocks along a line drawn with a string to a piece of plywood and then clamp the piece starting at one end to the blocks. I can also readjust the blocks for different radius and shapes. Thanks for the video

[@FrankaDith]

Your right about the TV statement ,thank you for making the world a better place .

[@fistongen]

What type of glue? You are very nice to make this gift! Thank you for teaching this!

[@matthiaswandel]

It was a one time thing only. That's why I didn't bother making a form.

[@mpkirkwood]

nice work - I'll be whipping a few of these up for the kids this weekend. Thanks for a great video on how its done.

[@kimberlykuramaattori]

Can you make a snare drum? They can be really expensive, so therefore it would be cool to be able to make one 'cheap'. Plus its rather neat to have drum ;)

[@jedihair]

Clamp the center point of all the boards first and then bend it with the straps because the ends of the boards need to slide to match the curvature. Once you do that, then clamp like there's no tomorrow. You had it backwards and that's why there were gaps in the final project.

[@danthewalsh]

Regarding the lamination separation issue, suppose you screwed the middle laminates of the clamped, curved beams periodically along the long axis to act as a backbone before gluing the final two laminates on either side to hide the screws. The idea would be to prevent the separation you had in this video, and increase the strength and longevity of the build, since the laminates would be effectively clamped by the screws even long after you remove the clamps once the object is supporting weight. You also would no longer need to own quite so many clamps.

[@kingpen]

Hey, Matthias, I was wondering if you would be up to the challenge of making an example of some of the wooden structures as shown in Bilbo's house in the Hobbit movies? (Ex. the bend and scarf joint as seen in the hallway arches "Party at Bag End 3:30)

[@matthiaswandel]

Try a hardwood store. mailing a 1.5x1.5m piece of plywood would cost far more than the wood itself.

[@tygrahof9268]

Just about to make a cat wheel and this showed me everything I will need. And more clamps!

[@brennig2]

Ever considered building a vacuum bag? Pretty cheap to make with some PE sheeting and a vacu-u-vin pump, I bend the same baltic birch with it all the time, no delams.

[@JanBinnendijk]

Have you ever thougt of making a skateboard?.. i've made one years ago, but i'm just curious how you would tackle such a job..

[@cllllllllll]

Is baltic birch plywood the only choice? will harder wood but same thickness do the trick? what other suggestions do you have? :)

[@itekkan]

Hi Matthias, i love it, its very strong, i say "oh noo, its will broken" when you jump on it but its not :) . My son love to play this type toys too. I follow you from istanbul, keep going my friend, you are woodworking genius :) ...

[@alexsemine1]

Great one!!! And that's a very cool bucket of clamps.

[@larserickson5697]

Really nice! Wow. Did you think about making a 'jig' to clamp it to?

[@EdgarRuskov]

heyy... Just subscribed to your channel recently. Had no idea you were Canadian! Another plus to your already amazing work.

[@Theodor1st]

Aaah.. clamps.. what a great invention! Question here: what's that yellow thing called?

[@moejunior]

Do you think it is possible to do something similar using solid wood?

[@Search4TruthReality]

LOL, we woodworkers aren't clamp collectors for nothing. Hey, all those clamps probably cost much more than it would cost of buying the prefabricated board; but, I know, I know...where's the fun in that. Another way curves can be achieved, staking out a curve and bending around the stakes. Curved Oak stair rails are made this way...except, the stakes are made of metal. ... and ...my-my, you do have a lot of clamps. :-)

[@tiagotiagot]

Why do it with lamination instead of taking a regular plank, steaming it till it gets soft and then letting it dry clamped to a mold?

[@matthiaswandel]

Oh, I'd like to see you try that suggestion yourself. Would be funny to see!

[@Fummy007]

I would have gone the "Bimetallic strip" route and glued two wooden boards with different expansion coefficients together and applied head.

[@felipipi]

I dont even have tools, but I love this videos.

[@KingDiddi]

The glue need 40 minutes to harden and getting dry. To mount all the clamps .... 90 minutes. hahaha

[@olyseth]

what would you use the curved board for

[@xWhiteRice]

In highschool I was building a large sewer pipe (about 6 feet tall inside the pipe) for a play. We ran into the same kind of problem and ended up nailing in a sheet of 1/4 ply to the frame. then gluing on another layer. and then another. at that point it could hold several peoples weight so we just trimmed it to shape with a router and presto

[@matthiaswandel]

I did talk about that in the article that goes with the video.

[@couerl]

Pretty cool, steam bending is a lot of fun too.

[@fouroakfarm]

My favorite use of the curvy board is setting things on it then knocking them off

[@jeepnelson83]

I want to try this project but am having a hard time finding the ply wood do u have any suggestions .is there a vender u know of that would ship it our dip u think a lauan would work

[@drmlzhang]

Hi. Very nice to see you answer to questions your viewers might have. becoming a fan :) and nice videos!!

[@jengagnon78]

Fantastic thanks for sharing. Might be worth the $120 for me because I'd pay that much for clamps ;) You're the best Uncle!

[@cadaveramatore]

what is the difference of each plywood as to have a more even finish? or all fits with the saw.?

[@ian-c.01]

It's good to hear that your nephews have their imagination fully intact and will be able to make good use of that board !

[@lenilsondssantos]

Friend, it is possible to make a wooden jig dovetail to be using the router. You can post a video of that. Sou da Bahia / Brazil.

[@carloskaiser5998]

Good evening, Mathias, I'm talking about Brazil and I met your channel today and I found your work as sensational! But could you tell me what kind of wood you use for these jobs and bend | thanks for answering. hug

[@ethan19quaife]

He said in the video he used Birch plywood

[@R900DZ]

Great work, but what is the point of the curvy board? I wasn’t clear on how it will be used.

[@demonshaz]

clamps galore. love your clamp collection

[@cps5698]

Matthias may have screwed up a bit on this one. His book bending analogy works if you are laminating a concave curve. However, he laminated a convex curve. By tightly clamping the ends before adding the strap, he added tension in such a way as to make the finished curve want to flatten more that it should. After he clamped the piece in the middle, he should have loosely clamped the ends, then tightened the strap and clamped from the middle out.

[@matthiaswandel]

I wasn't concerned about spring back after clamping. It didn't have to match anything in particular.

[@cps5698]

True. And the piece came together in the end. Nevertheless, I think my reasoning holds... but only one of us is an engineer, and it isn't me.

[@WriterKeys]

Hi Matt good job! Was wondering will there be any difference if you were to make 2 sets then finally glue them together. Cheers!

[@loola456]

does the wood lose any strength if you steam it?