Woodworking question

[sam]

I'm making a big motor storage box on my trailer I want to make the top have some bow so it sheds water. It only needs to be an inch or so, but I haven't decided how to do it.

I don't have a bandsaw. If I did I'd just cut some arc on top of some 2X4's.

Instead I'm considering bowing some 2X2's, coating them with epoxy and then epoxying them to the roof so they retain their bowed shape.

Any other suggestions?

[kev29p]

laminate

See if you can get your 2x2's ripped in half, then fabricate a jig to hold the pieces at the curve you want them. Epoxy them together, clamp them to the jig and you'll have a much stronger and consistent arc with your pieces. If the ripping isn't an option, you may want to consider laminating firring strips?

[Bill Huson]

No saw at all?

Table saw, radial arm, or access to one? Score some pine lumber, knot free as you find it while picking over the pile. Rip `em up. 3/8" or 1/2" strips should work. Fashion a jig and bend them to the curve, 2 or three layers slathered with WEST. Shazam! Laminated beam. Might want to tweak the jig a bit overcurved to handle "springback." Bent things tend to go a wee bit straighter when removed from a jig, but laminations aren't nearly as springbacky as single pieces.

Plan B - Lacking a table saw or the like, look for precut strips in the cheap molding ailse. They be an 1" or more wide and about 1/4" thick. I used them to laminate sponson chines - too lazy to rip up wood.

Plan C - 2" x 2" is kinda hard to bend. Kerf it. Insert thickened WEST in kerfs, bend to desired curve, let cure.

[Bill Huson]

One more thang . . .

Forget "steam bending." To bend wood the core temp has to get around 200 F, as in steaming the piece or using a heat gun (my choice since I have an industrial monster heat gun). AND the moisture content of the wood MUST BE around 25%. If aforementioned wood has been sitting around this winter, cold and so dry even manly-men were sneaking squirts from their lady friend's moisturizer jug to keep their skin from cracking, the wood will be dry, and you could steam that stuff until the cows came back to the barn and it wouldn't bend worth a diddly.

[Guest]

K.i.s.s.

I'm making a big motor storage box on my trailer I want to make the top have some bow so it sheds water. It only needs to be an inch or so, but I haven't decided how to do it.

I don't have a bandsaw. If I did I'd just cut some arc on top of some 2X4's.

Instead I'm considering bowing some 2X2's, coating them with epoxy and then epoxying them to the roof so they retain their bowed shape.

Any other suggestions?

Yea I do. Use your table saw or circular saw to cut the arc.

[Flint54]

As long as you are planning on glassing them, make them out of strips/resin. Bend them over a board & clamp them down till setup. I did the same thing when I wanted to make formed rails for a dodger I made. Don't have the boat or dodger anymore but the rails are still here 15 years later in the garden for beans!

[sam]

Thanks guys. I will look at strips for laminating or I'll make my own. I am sure you guys are right, that is the way to go.

Bending is no trouble, I have lots of time and can easily set up a jig.

[Skoontz]

If you dont want to bend wood, you can easily draw an arc over the 2x4, 1" low at he ends. Take a 7 1/4" Skil saw and just follow the arc you drew. The blade will bend around a gentle turn pretty easily. If yuo wanted a uniforn piece of wood, use a 2x6 and cut the inner and outer radius the same way.

May be a bit butcherous compared to what's been suggested, but, it has my SAS rating of approval.

[bandit64061]

If you dont want to bend wood, you can easily draw an arc over the 2x4, 1" low at he ends. Take a 7 1/4" Skil saw and just follow the arc you drew. The blade will bend around a gentle turn pretty easily. If yuo wanted a uniforn piece of wood, use a 2x6 and cut the inner and outer radius the same way.

May be a bit butcherous compared to what's been suggested, but, it has my SAS rating of approval.

What he said, i've seen a 2' circle cut with a skill saw.
Richard

[johnsonm50]

I'm making a big motor storage box on my trailer I want to make the top have some bow so it sheds water. It only needs to be an inch or so, but I haven't decided how to do it.

I don't have a bandsaw. If I did I'd just cut some arc on top of some 2X4's.

Instead I'm considering bowing some 2X2's, coating them with epoxy and then epoxying them to the roof so they retain their bowed shape.

Any other suggestions?

Sam, as a custom woodworker by trade constructing many curves, structural & cosmetic - I go along with the guys who say laminate some pieces together curved to your need. These will have plywood like strength & hold the arch well. Id guess your using ply for the roof & Id guess the length is over 4" the good news there is the ply will cooperate bending not against the outer grains but with. Mike

[johnsonm50]

[QUOTE=johnsonm50;126673]Sam, as a custom woodworker by trade constructing many curves, structural & cosmetic - I go along with the guys who say laminate some pieces together curved to your need. These will have plywood like strength & hold the arch well. Id guess your using ply for the roof & Id guess the length is over 4" the good news there is the ply will cooperate bending not against the outer grains but with.

I also concur with Bill that a skillsaw will cut an arch to some degree, more than youd think.. advise: clamping the wood & 2 hand the saw, sure if your used to it you could hold it with your foot too you could also nail/screw it down away from the cut line to hold it. Mike

[Merc55H]

Laminating

Concur with Mike AKA JphnsonM50,,,,, you really don't have to get an exotic glue for this project either. Titebond III at your hardward store is probably around $5-6 bucks, waterproof, sets up quick.

[Fast Jack]

Roof Bows

Sam , I got replacement roof bows for my trailer for about 12 $ each (used thenm to make roof racks) check with your local dealer. They are strong, pre arched and easy to screw the top on.

[sam]

What kind of trailer? These need to be about 7' 6" so they will finish out at 7' 4"

[G Stillwill]

Take a 1/2 piece of plywood and draw your arc on it , figure how thick you want the pieces your laminating are going to be and draw another arc with that thickness. Get some dowel stock and drill some holes in the plywood every so often along the egde of both lines.Cut pieces of dowel and put in the holes in the plywood. Glue your strips and put the strips in the jig you made and it will hold them in the arc and clamp the strips to hold them together. I made many of curved hand rails that way and those were 2" by 3" thick.