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microwave bending

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:35 am
by deadedith
For a small patching job - I have to bend a piece of eir - 1" long, 1/2" wide - what would the microwave oven method look like? 10-15 seconds or so? Should water be involved?
Thanks

edit - Actually I just found this online, so I'm good to go:
To generate steam when microwaving, wrap the wood in a piece of wet paper towel, place it in a microwave oven and microwave it on high. The exact amount of time needed to heat a piece of wood will vary depending on the size of the wood that you are bending, as well as the thickness of the wood so do experiment a little. Err on the side of caution until you are very comfortable with using this method and understand the heating requirements. I would recommend starting out by heating wood for 20 seconds and testing to see how pliable the wood is at that time and continuing on.

Re: microwave bending

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:43 am
by johnnparchem
Give it a try! I would wrap the wood in damp paper towel as the microwave heats by vibrating water molecules. The wood will heat with its moisture but it will get some help with the additional water. I never tried wood but I am a cook. I would try 1 minute increments.

Re: microwave bending

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:46 pm
by Ben-Had
That's an interesting concept. I've used it to flatten pick guards that have warped. I put the PG in a flat glass casserole dish, cover with 1/2" or so of water and bring to a boil. Then let it set until it cools. The PG will form to the flat bottom of the dish. Works like a charm.

Re: microwave bending

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:02 pm
by deadedith
Worked fine - microwave high, wrap in a wet paper towel, took about two minutes. I had it thinned down to the right measurement first.

Re: microwave bending

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:01 pm
by Woody OKeefe
Dave,

You are definitely not Old School! LOL Very hot idea..ouch

Re: microwave bending

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:06 pm
by deadedith
What I need is a long thin microwave for sides!! LOL