Wood Board

WOOD BOARD

To bend hardboard into a shape, for example a curve, make it very damp, bend it into the desired shape and leave it to dry. Some types of hardboard are treated with oil so will take longer to dry.

To cut laminate or MDF, care must be taken to avoid damage to the decorative side and wasting the material. Making the first cuts to the decorative side with a stanley knife will avoid problems.

To screw two pieces of wood together, fasten the thinner piece of wood into the thicker one gives more purchase to the screw and a more secure fixing. In hardwoods, start the hole for the screw with a drill to avoid splitting the wood.

To stop a piece of wood warping, saw small slits into the longest edge of the board on its rear or lower edge. Two quarter-inch slits a little over two inches apart will allow space for expansion in changing temperatures.

Wood warps due to drying out. It is sometimes possible to "un-warp" the board by soaking and re-soaking it using wet towels while putting it concave side up over a radiator with weight on each end. If the wood has been sealed it will be necessary to sand its surface to let moisture in.