mackey1

My Feedback: (24)

Help! I have a 1/4 Bud Nosen Citabria kit that requires 1/4" balsa, 4" wide, to be wrapped around cockpit to firewall. Firewall is oval shape which requires bending the wood in two directions. I soaked the wood overnight in water but it still doesn't seem to want to bend very well. Any ideas, suggestions???

Bill

tom johnston

My Feedback: (2)

1/4" balsa seems too thick to bend very well. Check your dimensions and, if that is correct, I'd suggest using 1/4x1/2" stock and planking the area. That would require some filling in and a lot of sanding, but you would be doing that, anyway. LOL

jagnweiner

My Feedback: (1)

Or, I would think you could try to laminate two pieces of 1/8" balsa. Soak the first sheet, bend and glue in place and let dry. Then do the same with another piece over the top of the first.

-Scott

robert92679

You might also try soaking the wood in a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Just the regular household variety of ammonia. It should make the wood much more flexible than water alone. Still, 1/4" is pretty thick to bend. Perhaps combining the ammonia with the 1/8 lamination suggestion would do the trick. I prefer to bend the soaked wood and hold it place while it dries (with rubber bands, pins, etc.), then glue it once it has dried up a bit.

Robert

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

In a situatiion like you have, I would strip the area with 1/4 x 1/2 pieces of balsa, leaving about a 1/8" space between each of them. When dry, sand all edges to get a round surface. Then cover the entire area with one piece of 1/64 plywood. The result will be a nice smooth surface - much nicer than balsa wood alone.

smedsky

If you steam the wood for about 1/2 hour it should become like a wet noodle. Be ready to work quick once its hot.

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

I use 2 methods, very hot water, which is marginal, and I bought a steamer just for that and it works awsome. You glue on one edge and then steam and it bends like crazy. Also built a steamer bed that the wood can lay in to get steamed all at one time and it comes out and bends very well. I bought the steamer on ebay. It is a europro model. cost me about $60. I use it for a lot of other things too now that I have it. Look into one. Well worth the money. I have used it on a lot of planes and it makes bending things way better.

Sense963

My Feedback: (10)

I second the planking method. Can't imagine trying to bend 1/4" balsa no matter how much steam, water or ammonia. Done right, planking is a beautiful thing. Kinda like the 1/64" plywood around it idea, too. Makes sense and I bet you like the outcome.

Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

I did exactly as your talking about. Didn't use any amonia. Layed VERY HOT wash clothes on the balsa and bent it as it let me. Wasn't glued down yet. But it expande some. Had to wait till it dried out to conform to size. But I think using amonia would be easier. Here are some pictures of it.