How to Soak & Bend Plywood for Drum Shells
- 1). Place one drum into an outdoor fire pit and build a fire surrounding the drum. If possible, place the drum on a large metal grate that supports the weight of the drum when full of water. Bring the fire to a red bed of coals. Fill the drum 2/3s full of water and bring to a boil so it steams from the top.
- 2). Place the other drum on the ground or between the two work horses. Place the plywood sheets, one at a time, on the steam from the top of the first drum and steam until the plywood sheet is saturated and hot.
- 3). Wear gloves. Pull the hot and wet plywood from the heater drum and push it against the second drum. Clamp one end of the plywood to the drum and push the plywood around the drum so it is a semi-circle on the drum exterior. Clamp the middle and other end of the plywood to the drum to hold the bend while it dries and cools.
- 4). Remove the clamps after 24 hours and pull the plywood from the barrel. Bring another piece to the wet and saturated point and bend as in steps 1 to 3 until the drum shell panels are shaped to complete your project.
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