Is there bendable plastic or wood edges for the edge of tables and counters?

[Molson]

I am building an irregular shaped desk, kind of peanut shaped. I'm thinking of a laminate top over MDF with some kind of edge on the face of it. I have always used oak stripping for straight edges but of course it cant be bent like that. I was wondering if there is something that I can use to do this. I don't really care what it is made of as long as it is somewhat durable. I do not want to use veneer because it is too flat. Do they make thicker veneers with a slight profile?

Thanks for any help Chris

To send me e-mail remove the sevens from my address.

Chrisd

[Mark & Juanita]

They do make an iron-on laminate edging. It's not as nice as wood edging, but given the profile you are trying to shape, this may be a good alternative.

You could also cut thin strips of your oak stripping and laminate it, then trim it.

[JGS]

[Troy Hall]

The November 2003 issue ( #152 ) of wood Magazine showed just how to do exactly what your asking. They made a large oak oval dining table using oak. And made a beautiful bendable side for the undersupport of the table using an oak skirt. The article you would want would be on page 22 "Kerf Bending ... Bend solid wood with your bare hands and a little help from your saw." Basically it involved sawing kerfs at preset spacing until you are within

1/8" of the outside and do>

[Troy Hall]

oh, just as an FYI, this technique is done with 3/4" solid stock

[Ken M.]

Thin strips of Ash will do what you need.

[Patrick Fitzgerald]

Since you don't care about the material, how about plastic t-molding:

have never used the stuff but I understand it is typically used by people making arcade-style game cabinets. You'll need a router to install it.

[Badger]

Hummm, Bendywood

put your own rad/profile on it after to glues dried, nice stuff to work with, not sure if its available in the states, though they will ship IIRC.

Niel.

[igor]

I do not recall what it is called or who makes it -- it has been a few years -- but I have gotten bendable plastic moulding at the lumber yard, special order. IOW, it does exist. Ogee, 1/2 round, and some others were available. Worked fine for painting. Used as cap moulding for baseboard on a curved wall and front edge on a curved built-in shelf unit. They also apparently sell versions that can be stained. Try the special order dept at a local yard.

[Luigi Zanasi]

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 03:19:51 GMT, Molson scribbled:

Why not steam bend the edging you really want & apply it. See Gregg Germain's steambending FAQ:

's also a lot of other stuff around on steam bending.

Luigi Replace "nonet" with "yukonomics" for real email address

[Phil]

Some woods bend easier than others. Oak, Ash & Maple bend rather well when either steamed and bent or wet and subjected to heat. Think 1/8" thick -- maybe as thick as 1/4". It's going to depend on the radius of your form. A really tight radius will require thinner strips of wood. Of course you can then add additional thin strips of wood to get the thickness you need. Prepare a form (you can use the table top with tape or wax paper between to protect from moisture)-- have a lot of clamps available. Get the wood wet & use a heat gun to make the wood pliable-- 1/8" Maple will be wet enough in warm water in about 20 minutes. Clamp quickly, as wood looses it's elasticity as it cools. If the table is not too large, you can use strips cut from an inner tube to bind the edge wood to the form as you go ( you might need a helper).-- Then after at least 24 hours you can glue/clamp as usual. If this sounds like more than you want to do, then use the 'T' molding (plastic) available at your local borg in various thickness/widths -- you have to rout a slot all around the edge of the table. Used in lots of commercial office furniture-- cubicles & the like.