LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

2K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  cjwillie 
#1 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
 

Attachments

See less See more
8
#2 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
This can happen because your wood was not dry enough to start with or just that you left it in a position where one side was drying out more than the other. you can turn it over for a couple days and see if it straightens out or you can mist the concave side with some warm water and see how that works .If that doesn't work mist the concave side with water an clamp it on some shims aka stickers with enough shims to over compensate for the bow and let it set at least over night.
 

Attachments

#3 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
Doug, is the top H/D plywood or is it just the carcass ?
a1Jim's got it for solid wood, but plywood shouldn't have warped like that ?

Plywood can warp, but that's a wack of movement that I wouldn't have expected…

:-(
 

Attachments

#4 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
I would have never expected banded plywood to do that. Is it the banding that's drawing the plywood up?
 

Attachments

#5 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
I would screw cleats to the underside of the lid. Attach the cleats around the perimeter so you won't lose any storage space. 1-1/2" high x 3/4" thick will be sufficient.
Best of luck!
 

Attachments

#6 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
Auuch.
If all fails you can plane the chest to fit the lid.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 

Attachments

#7 ·
HELP! I'm warped and I can't straighten up!

As you can see from the photos I have a problem. What you are looking at is the top to a blanket chest that I am making for my parents. Note the amount of light visible at each corner. It wasn't like that when I first cut the material, which in this case is 3/4" Red Oak plywood from Home Depot. I cut the pieces for the carcase at the beginning of summer. About a month later I assembled the carcase and set the top aside until I was ready for it. Now, that Christmas is almost here, I am ready to attach the top. I want to make the top flat again but am unsure of how to do it. I'd thought about using a glue up of two 3/4" solid Red Oak to create a beam that would be about 1 1/2" thick, 2" tall, and almost as long as the inside of the carcase. What do you think? Would that be enough to flatten the top so I can attach it to the carcase with a piano hinge?

Wood Shelving Floor Flooring Wood stain


Dartboard Property Wood Darts Wood stain


Dartboard Darts Wood Wood stain Floor


Furniture Computer desk Table Desk Wood
Put the lid out in the sun with the inside to the sunlight. Or you could put a fan blowing warm air on that side. The outside seems to have dried out and shrunk while the inside has retained its moisture. If this straightens it out put some kind of sealer on all sides to prevent this again. Plywood will still move just not as much as solid wood.
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top