Tambour Doors Without Wires
By Benjamen Johnson
How do you make tambour doors — you know, the rolling doors in roll-top desks and appliance garages? You could glue the slats to a cloth backing, then fish a wire through every slat to hold the tambour door together, or you could use Amana’s new bit set. With Lonnie Bird’s three carbide-tipped tambour/appliance garage door bits, you can create uniquely shaped slats that interlock.
Since each slat measures approximately 1/2″ x 1″, you should only use these bits in a table-mounted router. Use the first bit to route the top and bottom of the slats, the second to route the groove, and the 1/8″ radius bit to finish the tongue. When you’re finished milling the slats, slide the tongues into the grooves to assemble the door. The finished tambour door’s minimum bending radius is 3-1/2″.
The three piece tambour bit set doesn’t come cheap, but quality router bits never do. Budget anywhere from $170 to $200 if you’re interested in a set.
Tambour Door Bits [Amana]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
July 21st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I have a product that has a tambour lid and the slats of wood keep falling off after months of use. Any ideas how to make tambour trac without any chance of coming undone?
Thank you….Richard