Making a Curved Face Frame

When the top and bottom face frames on a cabinet need to follow the curve of a shelf, there are several simple options. December 27, 2008

Question
I am making kitchen cabinets (paint grade) that require a wall cabinet with an outside curve. The shelves are fixed and exposed, but the face frame will need to follow the outside curve of the bottom shelf and the top. The radius is 11". The bottom face frame member is 1 1/2" wide and the top member is 3" wide, both 3/4" thick. I'm thinking glue laminated strips of poplar around a form, but I'd love some advice. I've also considered kerf bent plywood, but don't feel too confident about the durability of veneer on the edges.

Forum Responses
(Cabinetmaking Forum)
From contributor F:
If you have never done strip laminating, why not do it for the experience? I would start by making a form with the radius of the cabinet shelves first. Typically, you are better off by setting that radius back the thickness of 1/8" masonite. The masonite serves as a form liner and gives you a better joint on the laminate at the form face.

Then, do the math for your total laminate thickness and also another 1/8" form liner to set the radius for the other half of your clamping form.

Naturally, set the height of the form for your widest rail so you can glue both on a single form. Forms can be built up with ribs, but in the case of only 3" and the small radius, I would probably just use multiple layers of particleboard to make a solid form. I like this two-part form but you can get by with one form and more clamping.

I like to saw my laminates on the bandsaw and then plane to final thickness before gluing in the form. Some folks like to plane only the inner and outer faces and glue saw mark to saw mark. Do a test laminate to get a feel for what the best thickness is to bend to your rather tight radius.

There is always a bit of springback, but in your case it wouldn't be a problem because you can glue and clamp the finished curved part to your cabinet carcass.



From contributor J:
That will be a very manageable first experience at bent lamination. The form will match the inside of the curve and be rigid enough to resist the springiness of the bent plies without distorting. You may want to use the same template as a guide for routing the form and the actual top and bottom of the cabinet so that the curves match precisely. Make the plies perhaps half an inch wider than the part, and add a few inches to the length so you can trim the parts after glueup - the ends are difficult to clamp and tend to be rather ragged. Coating the form with plastic packing tape will save you from gluing the part to the form. Use a few layers of masonite between the part and the clamp screws, as flexible cauls. Use lots of clamps. Rehearse the process dry before you do it with glue, because it's got to go together quickly.



From contributor P:
There are many ways to tackle this. Since the final product is paint grade, it's worth a try, as any flaws can be hidden.

Your options are...
Bandsawn and sanded from solid stock. Quick but hard to sand the rad perfect.
Vacuum form around a form. I assume you do not have a vac press.
That leaves bent lam construction as contributor F lists.

Most important, do a good job on the form - everything else is easy. I would make just one piece about 5.5 wide and cut both pieces from that. 1/8 is probably the thickest you could get away with. If your planer will go thinner, or you have a widebelt, I would shoot for .09 thick. You can go with either a one or two piece form. I will just list the one piece as contributor F discussed the two piece.

For one piece forms, the form is always convex. This seem to be easier, as pulling the lams stretches them and the end result is smoother. A 6 in thick form out of whatever is fine. I put plastic on it to keep the glue from bonding the form. You may have to make notches for your clamps. Dry pull the stack of lams to see how it behaves. You will need a caul strip or two on the top to evenly distribute the clamp pressure. This is critical and should be thicker and stiffer than the poplar strips you are forming. Two .25 caul strips should work. .312 if they bend without breaking. Spread the glue and form. Plastic resin is the best, but if you use thinner lams, yellow glue will be fine. Make sure you make the lams at least four inches longer than final. This is where the curve will flatten or discontinue.



From contributor R:
This is a perfect opportunity to acquire and use a vacuum bag press.

For an 11" radius, I'd be looking at 4 layers, sanded to a final total thickness of 3/4". Resaw them thick, then sand them on a widebelt or drum until the stack, clamped together, measures 3/4". You do not want to have to correct the thickness afterward.

I would also make a single piece 6" or so wide, then rip it into the two parts you need. That way they will both be the same radius. Keep them oriented properly and any distortions will match top and bottom.

Using vacuum, be sure your form is plenty strong. You'll be amazed at how much pressure the bag can generate.



From contributor T:
A stack of veneer can also work very well for this. The stock is so thin (1/16 +/-) that it doesn't have a memory and springback is a non-event. You will want to make the pieces extra long for trim down. Don't forget to use wax paper between the veneer and your curved form.


From contributor K:
If this were stained finished, I agree with others, but being that it's paint grade... If you want a recess on top and bottom, just kerf some ply (or use kerfcore) to get the radius you want, glue and veneer it.

Another simpler option for flush top and bottom is below... Either option will eliminate springback, minimizing and taking longer for the eventual hairline joint cracks (that always happen in painted product eventually) to present themselves...


Click here for higher quality, full size image