How to Make an Arched Cabinet | Bent Lamination Project
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- čas přidán 17. 03. 2022
- How can you bend wood to your will? Try bent lamination. Bent lamination is the process of gluing together multiple thin pieces of wood in a specific shape, in my case an arch. Because the wood is thin, it will bend a great deal more than a thicker board. In my case, I made a curved hanging wall cabinet. Here are a few things that I observed during the process.
Form is everything. Make a good quality form and your boards will thank you for it. I created a form out of MDF. I used the thickest boards possible to get the extreme curve that I wanted, which was about 1/16th of an inch. Your boards are going to contour to the shape of your form so spend a lot of time making a good one.
Even clamping pressure is vital. For my hanging wall cabinet, I created a curved form and then an interior piece that applies even clamping pressure to the laminated boards. Well, I frankly did not do a good enough job and had some gaps that did not allow for even clamping. I ended up scuttling the interior bent lamination form and using a billion clamps instead. The result was still a very nice cabinet, but having a quality form with good clamping pressure would have make my life much easier.
Take in account the shape when designing. I wanted some shelves and dividers in my hanging wall cabinet. I opted to use dados for the joinery, cut using a router. Unlike a traditional square or rectangle wall cabinet, you can’t cut the joinery before assembly. This is something to keep in mind to ensure you have enough working space for whatever woodworking tools you are going to use. I made my cabinet so I have enough clearance for my palm router. If my cabinet was narrower, I would have likely had to use hand tools to cut the dados.
After my bent lamination cabinet was formed, I went to town on the design aspect. This is usually my favorite part of a project. You are seeing me design on the fly. I generally do not have a super detailed plan for a woodworking project before I film its creation. I dive in and change my mind when I need to. After the shelves were added, I went back and forth on the design of the drawers. I decided to forgo anything with a crazy shape and fill the entire space with figured walnut. I wasn’t sure what handles to use. After rummaging around in my junk drawer I found a piece of 1/8” thick brass. This worked out perfect! I made some nice bar handles that I think helps to balance the entire hanging cabinet visually.
The whole piece was finished with four coats of Osmo oil, one of my favorite finishes. It gives a beautiful, close to the wood look.
•• About NewtonMakes••
I’m Billy and I make fun things. Sometimes, it’s something I need like tool storage ideas. Other times it’s silly or nerdy stuff that I want to build. If you want to get ideas for making stuff, or just want to watch something entertaining then make sure you subscribe.
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Here’s a list of tools and materials that I used to make this project. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
•• Tools & Materials ••
My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/newtonmakes
• Table Saw: amzn.to/2RwQTJa
• Table Saw Blade: amzn.to/3kezMHf
• Bandsaw: amzn.to/3168ElS
• Miter gauge: amzn.to/3HNRs9f
• Combination square: amzn.to/3aPMN6n
• Drum sander: amzn.to/2MyjpKG
• Eye protection: amzn.to/37F5M1N
• Hearing Protection: amzn.to/31JRpHa
• Dust Deputy: amzn.to/3aXeqe6
• Rigid Shop Vac: amzn.to/2U1V6Gz
• Osmo Top Oil: amzn.to/2xQG2SW
• Finishing Applicator Pad: amzn.to/38sAiOF
• Microjig Grr-ripper: amzn.to/38J7Buz
• Starbond CA glue: amzn.to/2XcgrO0
• Random Orbit Sander: amzn.to/2RxjkXo
• Router Table Top: amzn.to/2O4pxrT
• Router Table Steel Stand: amzn.to/313cUlV
• Bosch Router: amzn.to/30Yus2A
•• Videos & Graphics ••
• Video by Yan Krukov from Pexels
• Video by Klaus Hausmann from Pixabay - Jak na to + styl
Billy, dude, I watch a lot of woodworking videos…and I mean a lot. But you have to be one of the best woodworkers I’ve seen. Always challenging yourself, but at the same time producing beautiful items in a safe way.
Too kind. I really try to push myself. This one was a fun build.
That is absolutely gorgeous! I have always been curious on how you could bend wood like that. Super impressive man, well done!
I bend wood with pure will power and awesomeness. And lots of clamps.
That is a beautiful cabinet, Billy. Thanks for sharing this cabinet video with us.
Beautiful piece
That turned out AWESOME!!! It's so unique and the walnut/brass combination looks fantastic!
That's brass turned out beautifully!
Looks fantastic. The figured walnut and brass is a beautiful combination.
I'm so glad I used the brass. Complete on the fly decision.
Wow! That’s a show stopper for sure!
Sparkly beautiful. Wow.
WOW is what comes to mind!!! Awesome build.
That is absolutely beautiful, great choice of timber and those brass handles really finish it off
Man that turned out awesome brother nicely done, that figured walnut was definitely a great choice with the brass, great video too of the process
That walnut is bonkers!
Looks amazing! Keep up the good work. Extremely impressive
WOW , that is awesome . Thanks for sharing .
Stunning!
Turned out spectacular
Thanks!
Wowowowow! Beautiful!
This is so beautiful!!!
Amazing work!!!
Gorgeous. Great work, man!
Thanks! I'm thrilled with how it turned out.
That turned out really nice 👍 I believe I’m gonna give it a try
Great project and great video!
Dude you’re Fn awesome!! 🤘🏼
Very nice indeed.. Well done!!
great video and well done!
Beautiful
Чудовий проєкт! Дякую. 👍
Brilliant as always man. Love your videos
Thanks!
that is so great, been wanting to do something with a curve and that is a beautiful project.
Thank you!
Really nice cabinet, Billy. I like your math figuring out how many laminations to make the arch (lol). Take care.
Bill
I rounded up! Haha
That thing is beautiful man I love it
Muito bom, obrigado pelo ensinamento. Robertson (Brasil)
Very beautiful! Put some doors on it and it would make for an awesome jewelry box as well.
Thas purdee awesum dood!
Simply Amaziing project - love it.
Thanks!
Nice work!
Thank you!
top job + excellent presenting style and vid production 👊🙏
Very nice 👍
how come you didn't just make the shape on a single panel and then use the router to follow the edge of the previous one to cut the next piece?
Definitely a beautiful piece. I was thinking when you cut out the form you used the wrong piece. Normally you use the inside form to bend your veneers over it to make your lamination. You would put some holes in the form around the perimeter to clamp the veneers. But I digress, you made it work how you did and it came out exceptional. Love walnut so it was a treat to see the final piece.
Billy: That looks AMAZING! I’d love to build something like that but I don’t have a workshop or clue on how to start putting one together.
Hopefully we have some sense of a clue after watching the video 🤣🤣
Beautiful job! I wonder what it would look like if the shelves were a tiny bit shorter so you could didn’t see the dado cuts from the front.
That maneuver on the tablesaw sketched me out so bad, I don't think I'd ever trust myself to do it lol
It's a tough cut for sure.
Really cool project and loved seeing how you did it!
Also, why is it so satisfying watching you turn the piece to clean up the edge of the lamination on the table saw?
I know, right? Pretty weird cut.
@@NewtonMakes but if it was half as satisfying to watch as it was to do, I'd be finding excuses to add things like to project to be able to do the cut. Lol
Hey there, I’m not sure if you’ll see my comment but this video was super helpful 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I just have a small question is it possible to glue mango wood together (make it thicker) just like what you did to the mdf and then try to cut strips to make it bend? Thank you in advance 🙏🏻
❤️👏👍
Wow! Beeeautiful! Enjoyed the problem solving and your step by step descriptions. I was left with one question (well...yeah, I did have more). How do you use a French cleat and get it to fit flush to a wall? I expected it to be off the wall by the width of the material.
Thank you.
I have my back panel recessed about 1/2"; the back panel isn't flush with the back edge of the cabinet. I milled the cleat board to that same thickness.
Needs more walnut 😎
ALWAYS
That looks so cool! I don't have a table saw (yet! I'm saving up for one) so I can't rip thin strips but I'm thinking I could probably do some bent lamination experiments using 1/ 16" constructional veneers - do you think that'd work?
Also, I found your channel recently and I've been loving your content! I've mainlined a ton of your videos, now I'm watching some of my favourites (like this one!) over again - I'll try and remember to comment to let youtube know how I feel :D
Awesome to hear that you're liking the videos! Hopefully you'll dig this week's. 1/16 veneer should work great. That's basically what I made. 1/8 was too thick to bend to the shape I wanted so I had to go thinner.
That turned out awesome, the figured Maple drawers really pop. I did want to ask about your router bit choice. I just recently got back into woodworking and it seems like the spiral upcut/downcut bits are all the rage, though a single bit can cost as much as some bit sets. I noticed you were using the standard straight bit, is there a reason you choose to use the straight bit? I'm trying to decide if it worth sinking the money into a set of spiral bits.
Straight bits are great. Spiral bits will typically get you a cleaner cut and allow you to plunge into the wood. But as you said, they can be pricey. I used a straight bit because it was the right size for my shelf. If I had a spiral that size I would have used it.
What do you use to cut the brass dowels flush to the box? Saw another video of yours where it looked like you used nails with the head cut off and later cut them flush.
I was probably using aluminum dowels in that video. Check out my sharpening station video from a few weeks ago. I show how I cut them. Super easy.
Hello great work some information about your circle cutting jig please !
It's a milescraft jig. I'll try to put a link in the description.
Dalhe my friend your projects are top friend, I follow your channel and I am subscribed to be inspiration for my channel your projects if you allow, big hug - likaço always
Thanks for following along and providing so much support.
Really beautiful end result and I truly like that you are taking us on your "design as you build" journey. For additional challenge you should do inlayed French cleat instead of that "savage" screw on solution 😛.
yeah cool but i dont have $20,000 of sawing equipment at home
Too much work while you could’ve just made it hallow like the big box stores