What's the best way to curve MDF?

Question

I want to make a custom subwoofer enclosure. I want to make the shape similar to a foot drum. I have read that MDF can be soaked in hot water for hours in order to make it pliable enough to bend. I have also heard of steaming it for hours. For someone with not much more than generic household items, are there special tips or recommendations that may ensure I can bend an MDF board into a nice, professional-looking circle?

Answer 1

MDF comes apart if wet. medex is a watterproof mdf that will work for this. however it will be easier to use thin (read 1/4 inch or thinner) plywood in multiple layers glued together.

Answer 2

Contact Uri Geller.  

Sorry...it seems like a very specialized project to me but I think I saw something about that on one of the DIY, TLC or HGTV shows.

Answer 3

MDF would be my last choice for a use like that.  Consider getting some 1/4" tempered Masonite or similar flexible product, can bend it around a template and glue several pieces together.

Answer 4

ok so technically you can steam or soak mdf and make it bend but for a sub enclosure i dont recomend it.  for a sub enclosure you want at least .75 inches thick i actually prefer 1 inch if its going to be a really serious set up.  what i would recomend is the way i do it in my shop.  set up a frame and stretch fleece over it coat it with fiberglass rosin then use a mixture of rosin and body filler to smooth it out and sand it slick the12volt.com has a great tutorial a friend of mine posted in there forums.  that way you can pretty much make any shape you want.

Answer 5

yes it will work but will split in places

the problem is how to keep the water  hot without pro woodworking tub

the easy way is

to use fiberglass spray

we use it in our shop just bend screen to the shape

spray and let dry

Answer 6

You soak the MDF and bend it SLOWLY then clamp it in the shape you want and let it dry.   You may need to make a jig to facilitate the clamping process.  The thinner the MDF the easier it will be to bend.  If you need it to be thick, you might try to layer two pieces together and glue them with a good marine glue.  Although it is much more difficult to bend and glue multiple pieces than one piece.

TAKE YOUR TIME AND LET IT GET SOAKED THROUGH.  IT BREAKS EASILY WHEN WET SO DON'T OVER FLEX IT TOO QUICKLY.

Answer 7

Mdf at it's best is hard to work with and, I will pass it up if possible. You can't really get a good finish on it without a lot of added work, etc.

       Since your asking I would assume your a novice at wood-working and, don't have all the tools necessary but, your going to try something.

         I have used 1/4 inch sheet rock for curved walls, etc, and, I used both stainless and aluminum for this type of work and covered it. I'm afraid I can't help you here with this.

Answer 8

I'm going with Uri Gellar.

   Have you ever seen the effect water has on MDF?

  An easy test would be to purchase a piece of culled stock and do what you and some others suggest.

   I'll probably never know your success or lack of it, but I'll imagine you will end up dissatisfied.

Answer 9

MDF and water dont mix.  you can buy MDF in increments of 1/8, 1/8 being the thinnest.  glue multiple layers of  thin material, that will bend  to the shape you want.  the thinner the material, the smaller you can make it.   make a wood form (jig) to the inside diameter you want. cut the MDF wider than you want the finished cylinder to be, this is because you will not glues the pcs together perfectly.  get them close .  after all your pcs are glued together clamp with strap clamps, wipe off excess glue. let sit until glue is dry.  remove clamps, slide form or jig out, cut to desired length, fill seams sand smooth and paint.  

if you want to use the form or jig as part of speaker, you will have a frame inside , which would give you some variance in sound quality, but would save you a bit of time and money.

good luck