Quickly Incorporate Curves Into Your Project
By Benjamen Johnson
If you want to incorporate curves into your project, there are a few ways to do it. You can cut wood into thin strips of veneer and build up a curve layer by layer, you can steam the wood, or you can cut closely-spaced kerfs. Using KerfKore panels is another way to skip these time-consuming methods and get down to building.
As the name implies, KerfKore panels are a sheet material with a core consisting of thin strips of solid material such as particle board, MDF, or plywood with spaces or kerfs between the strips. This allows you to create curves with radii as tight as 3-1/2″. They use black latex-impregnated paper for the face of the panels and leave the other side of the panel open.
KerfKore comes in 1/4″, 1/2″, and 3/4″ thick panels. Pricing varies based on the thickness and size of the sheet; for instance a 48″ x 48″ sheet of 1/2″ KerfKore runs $54 before shipping. Of course, shipping sheet goods is going to cost you a bundle.
KerfKore [Corporate Site]
KerfKore [Curvalutions]
KerfKore [Premier Wood Products]
September 18th, 2009 at 10:58 am
i can see large construction companies using something like this on a large project, but the average tinkerer, not unlike myself, would settle for thin goods bought locally and just pray it does not break. speaking of which i had plans to build a barrel roof over here, but still debating
September 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Using real barrels????
September 19th, 2009 at 11:04 am
An alternative that might be easier to find locally would be wiggle wood or bender board. Our lumberyards carry it in 4 x 8 sheets that are 3/8″ thick. The most commonly-stocked version rolls along the 8-foot axis, but you can buy stock that will curve the other way, along the 4-foot axis. To make the distinction, the sheets of the latter are generally called 8 x 4s. We’ve covered it with high-pressure laminates for some applications and have also epoxied several layers together to make thicker and stronger arches.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:04 am
“a 48″ x 48″ sheet of 1/2″ KerfKore runs $54″
Ouch! Guess I’ll be making my own kerf, or layering thin materials.
September 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Or you could just make cuts like this in the back side of your curve, glue it, then trace caps to cover the kerfs. I’ve boiled wood to bend it, and done laminations. Neither one is all that hard. I could see using this for the curved end of cabinet islands or something. But personally, I wouldn’t put particle board in furniture.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:56 am
[...] Quickly Incorporate Curves Into Your Project If you want to incorporate curves into your project, there are a few ways to do it. You can cut wood into thin strips of veneer and build up a curve layer by layer, you can steam the wood, or you can cut closely-spaced kerfs. Using KerfKore panels is another way to skip these time-consuming methods and get down to building. [...]