Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Help with countertop edge molding
Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs
>I'm using granite tiles for a kitchen countertop and want to radius the edges of the peninsula. I can cut the radii in the corner tile o.k. but am wondering how I can bend hickory edging around the corner radii?
I'd hate to have to buy a steamer for just one project but maybe that's the only way??
TIA....Frank, who is calling it a night!
Re: Help with countertop edge molding *LINK*
Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX
>Aside from the fact you'd probably have to build a steamer rather than buy, you can always laminate your hickory, or at least the corner sections. Just make a form, buy piles of clamps, cut some thin strips (1/8" ought to be fairly easy), glue up several pieces as needed. If the corner section is small enough, might be fun to experiement with the Roarockit vacuum press kit.
Questions
Adam Cherubini, NJ
>Frank,
Where do you buy steamers anyway?
We're talking about a box with a tea kettle under it, right?
You don't have to answer those.
How thick is the hickory? How long is it?
I may be able to help depending on your answers.
Adam
May not need to steam it...
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond,CA
>If it's thin enough you might be able to bend it with out steaming it. If you go the steaming route remember the wood will spring back somewhat. It may take some time to get it right.
Re: Help with countertop edge molding
Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI
>An easy way would be with bent laminations. The easiest way would be to make a corner piece that extends 3-4" past the bend, and then miter the straight sections into it. Experiment with a strip to see how thin it needs to be to bend to the form. Regular yellow woodworkers glue will work okay for a bent lamination; it has some springback and creep but if you are fastening the molding to the counter it should last through the years.
Thanks, All!
Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs
>I'm going to make a forming jig and glue up some strips of hickory to make the corners I need.
Re: Help with countertop edge molding
Jeff Mackay
>Frank,
You could always try throwing a piece of hickory in the dishwasher for an hour--you'll probably want to take it out before the drying cycle though :) Can't guarantee it would work, but it might be worth a try.
You'll get springback with steam bent wood, so it might not fit the corner as well as you would like. I think laminations might give you better results.
Jeff
Re: Help with countertop edge molding
Alan Hamilton
>Frank,
I'm struck with the notion that you're going about this in the hardest possible way. Bending wood around a tight radius (I assume it's a tight radius) is difficult enough; bending a tough wood like hickory is even more difficult.
I would get a block of hickory; make it the same thickness as the trim is high; cut the inside and outside radii; and then use whatever implements to make the profile. To eliminate any end grain, I would cut the block and glue it back together with a splined 45� miter to go around the corner of the counter top. That sounds lots easier to me--but I've always been a lazy sort of cuss.
Alan