Kerf cuts confused

[bosch67]

I ve been trying to bend 25mm thick skirting board by cutting the back of the skirting board, this has been un successful so far how ever a carpenter has told my wife that the cuts should be put on the front of the board, can any body confirm this or am i being led up the garden path.

cheers paul d.

 

[Tozzy]

Hi, I'm not a carpenter but, I'd agree that the cuts should be made on the front because then you can bend it so that the flat sides meet (back). I would imagine this would be correct; especially if it's got decorative architraving too.

Why do you need to bend the skirting board? Surely this would cause it to snap in two leaving a rough and splintered edge.

Hope I've not misunderstood you.

Thanks.

 

[Jasonb]

Cut the back then you won't see the cuts, the kerfs will either open up or get closed together.

The spacing is important, there is a formula for working it out but basically the tighter the bend the closer the saw kerfs need to be. Try 25mm spacing (less if you are using a hand saw) and cut so there is only 3mm of the skirting left.

If you are trying to bend MDF skirting it will most likely split.

Jason

 

[bosch67]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Tozzy - the reason i want to bend the skirting board is so that i can fit it in a bay window.

jason b - i have tried cutting a trial piece of skirting at the back and it did make the skirting board more flexible but i dont no if it will be enough to get the bend i want.
I have to cut a length of about 3 metres so if there was a definate proven method i would try this first.

any way guys once again thanks for the replies

cheers paul d.

 

[Tozzy]

What sort of of bay window is? Is it an angular bay or a semi circular bay? If you are referring to a circular bay, then what about using flexiply (mdf)? Otherwise, the joints will have to be mitred. Good luck with this.

 

[Jasonb]

Yes I thought of tozzys way, do the flat part of the shirting in flexi ply/mdf or even 4 layers of 6mm MDF then bend the moulding around the top. Will only work for a semi circ bay, don't try it on an angular one.

Jason

 

[Tozzy]

@JasonB: Sorry, I forgot you already mentioned MDF. I didn't read your post properly.

@Bosch67: By the way, I was thinking about what the carpenter said to your wife and then I was thinking there is no way the cuts could be made on the front because surely it would spoil the design if there are load of cuts on view . No offence to the guy but, if he's wrong then he can't be a very good carpenter or maybe he just got a bit confused as to which sort of window it is. Maybe a semi circular that goes either inwards of outwards. We have one where the window sill goes inwards but, I'm pretty certain I have seen some that go outwards.

Well, speaking of skirting boards, I have to put some on in our bathroom so I hope it's not too difficult .

Regards.

 

[oilman]

You could try steaming the wood and then bending it, but only if it i good enough quality.

 

[Scrit]

Yes, but steaming only really works with certain species of hardwood - it doesn't do a thing for softwood, or at least no more than soaking in water would. And to steam stuff you have to build a steam box, get hold of a steam generator and build a bending table - surely a lot of work for a skirting.

Scrit