Question about a Kerfed Enclosure?

[528hz 10+ year member]

Is it going to be possible to make a kerfed box out of Birch Ply?

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[528hz 10+ year member]

No one knows if this is doable with ply?

 

[zack39648 10+ year member]

i doubt it but im no expert defiantly never seen it done

 

[R/T Pimp 10+ year member]

I can not image it being possible. Never tried it myself and never intend on trying it.

 

[TheFiverMan 10+ year member]

id think so..

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

i don't see why not.

 

[bones22 5,000+ posts]

it may be possible but i dont see any big curves being done safely

you can always form it

just make a form to use and soak the birch and slowly bend it to shape

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Should be easier actually as kerfing wasn't never really intended for MDF. Just cut through to the last 2 plys and you should be fine...

Look up "kerfing" on yahoo and all of the examples will be with some type of plywood usually or hardwood and they wet it when bending it...

 

[97gp 5,000+ posts]

Make sure to soak the wood in your pool

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

there should be no issues with getting BB wet, but I would try it on a test piece first just to be sure...

 

[Ed Lester 10+ year member]

Actually steam would be a better technique then just water.

You can probably use a carpet steamer or hang it in the shower.

 

[fbi90909 5,000+ posts]

i remember seeing someone had a kerfed enclosure built with the baffle/port kerfed out of birch. the baffle/port was also stained which looked really nice and everything else was carpetted. you could always try with some scrap would.

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

You dont want to use regular Birch Plywood. Baltic Birch is the material you need to use. And yes, BB can be kerfed as far as I know. I have never tried it myself, but I have seen it done. Shouldnt be any different than doing it with MDF.

 

[lincolntc690 10+ year member]

kinda ot but at work we have these thin (1/8"X3'X3') sheets of various kinds of wood, i was thinking of making a "jig" by routing my horn shape. a top and bottom groove, bending, gluing, overlaping them to whatever thickness i desire, along the way pieces of this wood. then just having to square the ends w/ the saw at the end. thoughts on this???

 

[528hz 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the help guys! If I could find Baltic Birch BJ I would be greatful, but nothing around here but ply. It's worked fine in the past, but with the bends, I could see it possibly splitting between the tiny spaces of each layer.

Although if you use the steam/water method, I could see it maybe working. I wonder if the integrity would be compromised in the strength of it after it is bent...