Ammonia and balsa
05-10-2003, 03:23 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Godoy Cruz Mendoza, ARGENTINA
Posts: 195
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ammonia and balsa
Need to use ammonia to curve pine wood....Can anybody tell me how can I do it, % of ammonia dilution, temperature and so on...
Thanks in advance
Daniel
Thanks in advance
Daniel
05-10-2003, 12:51 PM
#2
Banned
Ammonia and balsa
100% household ammonia, and soak until the wood feels flexible. If it tends to crack when you bend, soak it some more. Fasten it down into its final shape and let it dry completely. There will be some spring back, so if that is important, one must take it into consideration.
Les
Les
05-10-2003, 08:44 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: opononi, NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ammonia and balsa
As Les said....but two additional things.
If you can get hold of "100%" ammonia, it is very serious stuff.
As you are also wanting to deform a (comparatively) hardwood the soak is going to take some time.
So, make a "bath" out of a plastic tube (I think that a 1 metre long plastic plan tube with the threaded cap to it could be perfect for the job).
Fill with the ammonia soln, put in the wood, then screw the cap on.
Put it in a cool place (below 15C) until you think the NH3 has done its stuff.
Otherwise as Les has said.
Oh, obviously thicker sections will require more treatment than thinner, so consider laminating as part of the build as well.
If you can get hold of "100%" ammonia, it is very serious stuff.
As you are also wanting to deform a (comparatively) hardwood the soak is going to take some time.
So, make a "bath" out of a plastic tube (I think that a 1 metre long plastic plan tube with the threaded cap to it could be perfect for the job).
Fill with the ammonia soln, put in the wood, then screw the cap on.
Put it in a cool place (below 15C) until you think the NH3 has done its stuff.
Otherwise as Les has said.
Oh, obviously thicker sections will require more treatment than thinner, so consider laminating as part of the build as well.
05-10-2003, 09:34 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Godoy Cruz Mendoza, ARGENTINA
Posts: 195
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ammonia and balsa
Thanks !
I´m building a Clemente Ader Eole 1/2 A size. A very unusual item. Its longeron is a nightmare. But due to its little size I think ammonia will do it ok.
Thanks for advice about ammonia, I´m oenologist and ussually work with dangerous stuff.
Thanks again
Daniel
I´m building a Clemente Ader Eole 1/2 A size. A very unusual item. Its longeron is a nightmare. But due to its little size I think ammonia will do it ok.
Thanks for advice about ammonia, I´m oenologist and ussually work with dangerous stuff.
Thanks again
Daniel
