Introduction: Bending Wood With the Power of Your Mind! . . . and a Heat Gun
By focusing the immense power of your brain, your mind can alter the permanent shape of ply wood. Do you have to be a man who stares at Goats? a Jedi? A wizard?
Yes to all of the above. You will also need a heat gun, and Techshop membership
Step 1: Wood in the Hands of Mere Mortals
This is what ply wood looks to those who have not aquired super psychic skills and mastered the force of the universe for Good. These people use flat wood.
For those of you who have traveled the great distances of middle earth, and those members at Techshop, altering the forces of nature requires a dream, a heat gun, and a little finnesse.
First, get a piece of 1/8 inch ply wood - you could bend thicker in a weightless environment, but for now, here on earth, keep it to the skinny stuff.
Cut it in desired lengths and widths - I used the the table saw and band saw at Techshop, but you can sort out a saw of some sort, I am sure.
Step 2: Use the Force
Use the force of the heat gun on the highest heat setting. Direct it along the entire length of the bend you want to make, while applying gentle pressure.
I held it in a vice while heating it and used my free hand (and all of my spiritual power) to create the bends you see in the pic. The heat causes the glue to liquify and allows the plys of wood to slide and bend while under pressure.
Dont get in a hurry or try to bend to quickly or abruptly - remember your jedi training - let the wood yield to your awesomeness.
You will quickly find out that with patience, a variety of different radius bends can be achieved in this manner. I made kayak cockpit cowlings and guitar bodies in the same way. These pieces are going to be an artistic Ipad display with a little more development.
You can also do this at dinner parties to the accompanyment of moody circus music and amaze your guests.
Final note: that heat gun is freakin hot and it will melt anything you point at it. . . the table finish, your cell phone, and the plastic bottle that Root Beer comes in. It will also heat the vice to a high enough temperature to permanently brand the soft front of your belly if you lean up against it right after your wood bending miracle takes place.
Good luck my friends, and be convinced as you are convincing.
