How to Make Arched Molding

Molding has to be bent to fit an arched entrance.

Molding is trim placed around buildings to mask or accent particular characteristics. It is commonly found around doors and windows to hide the frame and ease the transition to the wall. For rectangular openings, the trim can be easily purchased at any local home improvement store, such as Home Depot, Lowe's or Menard's. When the opening is curved, like above arched doors, the store-bought molding has to be bent to fit the opening.

Things You'll Need

• Molding
• Steam box
• Peg board
• Pegs
• Cork strips

Instructions

1. Place the molding in the steam box and steam for 1 hour per inch of thickness. Normally trim is only 1/2 inch thick but still should be steamed for a minimum of 1 hour.

2. Make the same curve as the arch on the peg board using the pegs. An exact match isn't necessary, though the closer the better.

3. Place another row of pegs just to the outside of the original set. This will create a trough between the pegs for the molding to be placed into, and the trough will be the shape of the molding once it dries. Make sure the trough is wide enough for 2 pieces of cork and the molding.

4. Remove the molding from the steam box and place a strip of cork on each side.

5. Fit the molding-cork sandwich into the trough on the peg board, starting at one end and working around the curve to the other end.

6. Allow the wood to cool down and dry out before removing it from the peg board. For molding, it generally takes up to 48 hours for the wood to fully dry out.

Tips & Warnings

• If the curve is too tight, you may need to bend the wood in stages. Bending it partially, allowing it cool down and then resteaming it and bending it again can be done, however, the partial curve should be supported during the second steaming stage.

• The wood coming out of the steam box can be very hot. Gloves may need to be used to prevent from being burnt.

References

• Moulding and Millwork: Molding Installation Guide
• Allwood: Bending Wood