Shaping timbers

Question 1

Laminating

Answer 1

+ Quick process
+ Cheap
+ Low energy costs
- Accuracy is low
- Can only use one former at a time
- Not very repeatable
- Potential damage

Question 2

Cascamite

Answer 2

Used when laminating sheets of flexi-ply together
Stronger than PVA

+ Strong
+ Environmentally friendly
- Very permanent
- High wait time

Question 3

Kerfing

Answer 3

The process of removing straight strips of material from an otherwise solid piece of wood

+ Allows bending of solid wood
+ Does not require a former
- Weak points
- Time consuming
- Bad aesthetics

Question 4

Steam bending

Answer 4

+ Can create curves in the wood
+ Steam makes the wood easy to manipulate
+ Softens the lignin in the wood fibres
- Only have around 5 minutes when out of the steamer until the wood is solid