How to Build a Wood Bender

Use bent wood for a variety of projects.

Most bent wood has been cut into many small pieces. The pieces are glued together and bent around the wood bender one at a time until the material is thick enough. When the glue is dry, the wood stays bent. Wood bending jigs can be made at home. You can make your own wood bender to any degree you like for small tables, door trim, or anywhere you want a graceful wood arch.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces plywood, 3/4-by-24-by-24 inches
• Glue
• 36-inch hand clamps
• Compass
• Band saw
• Wood strips 1/8-by-3/4-by-36 inches

Instructions

1. Lay the two piece of plywood across two sawhorses. Spread glue on one piece of plywood. Place the other piece on top and place clamps along the perimeter of the two pieces and clamp them together. Wait one hour for the glue to dry. You should have a laminated piece of plywood that is 1 1/2-inches thick.

2. Remove the clamps. Use a compass to draw a semi-circle on one half of the laminated square of plywood.

3. Cut out the semi-circle design with a band saw. You should now have a piece of plywood with one square edge and one round edge.

4. Spread glue on one of the strips of wood. Bend it around the semi-circle design. Place another dry strip on top of the glued strip and bend it around.

5. Place clamps around the perimeter of the two strips 2 inches apart, placing one jaw on the bent wood with the other jaw on the square side. Wait 1 hour for the glue to dry. Continue gluing and clamping strips on the wood bender until you have a piece of bent wood at the thickness you need.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase a large woodworker's compass at a home improvement store. Cut some sticky sandpaper and stick it on the jaws of the clamps to keep them from slipping.

• The wood bender can bend wood pieces up to 2-inches wide. The measurements here are for examples. You can make larger or smaller diameter wood benders depending on your needs.

• Test the wood strips by first bending them by hand. Some woods bend easier than others. If the wood cracks, use thinner strips.