Hey everyone! This is my first time posting here. I have very little woodworking experience, aside from carving a wooden spoon. I'm looking to create a Viking shield for reenactment, intended to have a convex (lenticular) shape. I've heard that some people steam bend multiple layers of plywood planks, but that ends up being pretty heavy, which isn't what I want. So, I'm wondering if it's possible to steam bend just a single layer of 8mm Pine plywood into that shape? Maybe with a convex structure underneath to help keep the shape? Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
If you're not set on plywood, there's actually bendable plywood available. You could glue two layers together in the desired shape, and that might help keep it lighter while still being strong.
Unfortunately, you can’t steam bend plywood. The layers of veneer in plywood will delaminate, which ruins your project completely. You might have to look into other methods to get that shape you want without compromising the integrity of the wood.
No way, bending plywood like that will just lead to disaster. Instead, I’d suggest getting some solid construction lumber, milling it down, and then using a combination of shaping and sanding to craft your shield. You could even try making a bending form and using some commercial veneer to create a stronger, thinner shield.
Definitely check out cold molding! It's more about shaping the layers of plywood beforehand and then gluing them together to maintain the curve you want.