What to do bending 1/2" plywood?

Question

Im building a small hydroplane and the main bit of the hull and the deck is bent plywood. Its 1/4" thick. It has a big bend at the front and as the plywood is exterior grade, would just forcing it down and s***w and glueing it be ok?? Picture of a ready made one is at http://www.svensons.com/boat/?f=HydroPlanes/minimax/minimax_B.jpg

Thanks

Answer 1

You need marine As exter== will still come apart when it get to wet>1/2 you wont bend it> I/4 yes bend it slowly>Takes time to mold it>Take door skins mold it glass it then you have a solid hull>Put wax on it first> so you can get the wood off>

Answer 2

Soak it?   No way...it would take more than a month unless you baked it to bring the moisture readings below 10%.

The way to perform your task is all dry...cut thin saw kerfs in the underside on a tablesaw. Fill them with epoxy before you s***w it down.

Done!

Thank god I've averted a disaster! LOL

Answer 3

do NOT wet ply wood, you can stean bend planks of wood with the right grain ,  and thats obviously fresh water, dont use salt water.. but ply is totaly different... this big bend at the front can be cold moulded with the right glue and fastenings.

you could notch the back but that sort of defeats the purpose of the half inch ply......it will be much stronger if you use two quarter / or better still three sheets of  1/8" ply and stick them down cold molded in the shape , fix it down and it will dry in shape .. d'you get the picture....just resin will do ,..they use resorsinal famalderhide in the ply ..