Thread: glue to use when bending timber

It's a bit difficult to work out the best approach without a more detailed picture of what you are making, for example how may layers of ply are you attaching to the frame, how is the frame shaped, and how many leaves of blue-gum veneer will you have to attach to cover the ply?

And this is going to be outdoors too, and so you need a glue that isn't likely to be affected by water.

Epoxy is probably the best all around choice - you can use a slow setting hardener with it to give you longer open time to get the pieces together, it's not affected by water, and it will gap fill if you are using construction grade ply as your substrate.

You will need to clamp the pieces on while the adhesive cures. Squeeze out can be sanded off when fully set or carefully scraped off when the glue is a bit past the tacky stage (set, but not going really hard yet).

You might need to make a rather large form to mold it round. A bit bigger than my teapot handles. But I use epoxy cos white glue had too much creep and lamination unbent and de-laminated. Epoxy is also better for an outdoor application.

hey, thnx.
um well the epoxy will work for the back that iam also making out of layered ply coz i have a mould to which i can clamp it to but as for the veneers i hav no wa of clamping thn onto the bed as with how big it is compared to the veneers which are like 1500 x 200.. I was thinking maybe an iron on glue woud work best but thats just from what I have researched. I was also recommended to use resorcinal but yet you need to use clamps for it aswell. I have attached a photo of the mould/jig i have made to make my back piece and a picture i found of what it should end up like. I cant get a picture of the actual bed as iam on holidays and the bed is locked upat school.
Thanks Jacob

It might be easier to form the round base in segments then attach it to the base. Like a big drum maybe. Or maybe four curved sides that fit together to make a circle. You got to get it out the door remember, and move it between houses and stuff.

Originally Posted by tea lady

It might be easier to form the round base in segments then attach it to the base. Like a big drum maybe. Or maybe four curved sides that fit together to make a circle. You got to get it out the door remember, and move it between houses and stuff.

hahahah thats true apart from I have made the base so im up to attaching the veneers and making the back piece. but thnx, and yeah not sure how ill go on moving it about..

Originally Posted by tea lady

It might be easier to form the round base in segments then attach it to the base.

Thats what i would do (because you dont have a vacuum press which would be perfect) Even though you have made the base, i would still make some extra sections already formed and veneered so you can epoxy them straight on to your excisting frame. Stay right away from iron on veneer. Its rubbish. Keep the pics comming