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Any woodworkers here??

Finn59Finn59
in General Discussions
Saw wood fenders in my late, semi
grate ‘Bicyling’ subscription. Too expensive were some shown on a gift page pre-Christmas. Thin strips can be steamed then clamped to a jig to attain
said shape. Anyone ever try these?? Think spring, right FLA?
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Comments

  • TCEdTCEd
    edited January 3
    Yup, cut the wood thin enough and you wouldn't need to steam them. Glue two or three thin strips around a curve and clamp until the glue dries and you have fenders. Hard part is making the brackets that fasten the fender to the bike.
  • TCEdTCEd
    07saxbwcp4bu.jpg
    This is a mountain bike fender that cost $12 that I fastened with two tie straps to my rack. Works great.
  • Finn59Finn59
    I have two diff wood strips in the basement. A cedar n oak. 1/8” thin. Going to try steaming em. Will post Picts as it proceeds...
  • Finn59Finn59
    I still use a rack, but may stop using the pannier. Collected too much stuff and was getting heavy. Now have a much smaller bag behind my seat. Doesn’t slow me down, especially on the exerciser.
  • Florida_boundFlorida_bound
    Yes, it is winter in Michigan and someone is already bored! The problems with wood fenders are they will be heavier than other material and they are not something you want to get wet. The only good wood to use for wet surfaces is teak and it is quite expensive. Stick with what you have or nothing like I do and stay out of the rain!
  • TCEdTCEd
    I removed my rack and fender when I changed tires a year ago. Wasn't using the rack so why carry it.
  • Finn59Finn59
    I have a white plastic barrel that I had cut in half. I was going to use one half as a form to ratchet strap the steamed wood strips to, then let em dry for years. That plastic could be used as a fender as well. Just thought the wood would look nicer. Just two, one for each of our Rovers on the rear.
  • Finn59Finn59
    Be care who you say this too. Say it softly. Winter is coming back to floridazed....
  • Jrobiso2Jrobiso2
    If you make wood fenders, get VERY familiar with Marine-grade Spar Varnish. 5 thin coats to start (dry and sand between coats) and then apply new thin layers every month of riding, and they will continue to look brand new forever.
  • Finn59Finn59
    Once a month??? Oh man. Maybe the top visible portion. Maybe I can make the plastic look like wood. That plastic is prolly 1/8” thick. Rivet the wood strips to the plastic material??? Think spring
  • TCEdTCEd
    West system epoxy
  • Jrobiso2Jrobiso2
    The varnish isn't to keep it pretty, it's also a moisture and mud protector, so you'd want it on the inside as well.
  • Florida_boundFlorida_bound
    Would polyurethane work also?
  • Jrobiso2Jrobiso2
    Sure, but poly isn't really intended to contend with outdoor wood. Marine grade varnish is designed for nasty salt water environments, making it the perfect finish for outdoor wood projects.
  • Finn59Finn59
    Well, I steamed a thin pce of oak this pm. It bent right around a plastic barrel that I may use part of under the oak to protect it. Steamed it for 1/2 hr. Far longer than needed probably. Hint: do it outside in warmer temps. Knot sure where smell came from. Old wood or the cheap tea kettle I bought.? Will post picture when it has dried.
  • Finn59Finn59
    Steamed oak strip again today. Yesterday, I tried a ratchet strap on a plastic barrel, and then a bike rim. Now I have that oak clamped to the rim in three spots. I am trying to hold off going to check on it. Will hold off til tomorrow. Don’t know the dry time needed for an 1/8” thick strip. Think spring.
  • TrikeBirderTrikeBirder
    Oh sure Finn59, if you keep indoors, it'll be dry by spring. ;)
  • Finn59Finn59
    Been playing with it. Steaming thin strips works well. Setting up a decent system with clamps hasn’t proved easy. Been looking online for fender mounting hardware, and have a few choices there. Streets are pavement here. Bike paths still snow covered and slippery. Rain this weekend...
  • TrikeBirderTrikeBirder
    http://www.sykeswoodfenders.com/sykeswoodfenders/sykeswoodfenders.html
    I'm no woodworker, but this guy might be able to give you both a few woodworking pointers, and give you a lead on hardware. Best of luck!
  • Finn59Finn59
    Woody’s of Bend, Oregon makes me too. A lot of variety.
  • Finn59Finn59
    ...makes em too. Damn spell correct. No slang.
  • Jrobiso2Jrobiso2
    Some of the wooden fender makers create fully curved (tire-shaped), with patterns along the sidewalls of the fender. Some true talent out there!
  • Finn59Finn59
    I clamped my first attempt of oak to a larger than 20” rim for a day. Oak still didn’t hold the shape, it released back an inch or so at the tips. This piece I had steamed twice. I don’t know if this is a no-no. Oak started to split at one end in the middle. Don’t know if this was from clamping it close to the end, or the 2nd steaming helped this along.
  • TCEdTCEd
    edited January 19
    Finn59,
    Get two or three thin strips of wood.
    Brush an epoxy between the strips
    Bend around desired shape and hold with clamps
    Let epoxy cure overnight
    Sand excess and light brush coat everything with epoxy, let cure and top coat with UV coat.

    I've done this with many types and shapes of wood, it works and there is no spring back once the epoxy cures. Plus the epoxy gives the fender additional strength.


  • Finn59Finn59
    Just bought some maple that is 2 1/2” wide. Was going to rip it down the middle to get 5/16” thick pieces. Was going to remove wood it the middle underneath for a plastic strip to take the abuse of stones and the like.
    I have read about glueing strips to-
    gether. Am still considering it.
  • Finn59Finn59
    I had to soak the maple overnight. Seems it’s not a great choice for steaming bedding. Then I will steam it this pm for an hour. Then I will try to bend it. Oak is a great choice for bending.
  • Finn59Finn59
    Well I went and ripped the maple to 1/16” thin. Two pieces back to back fit inside the barrel without hearing a crack. So after ‘Moonshiners’ is over I’m going to glue strips together and check them in a day. Think spring.
  • Jrobiso2Jrobiso2
    Moonshiners. Yup, gotta have priorities!
  • Finn59Finn59
    I made a jig by just cutting a scoop from a 4x4. Soaked the 1/16” wood strips before clamping them in cutout. Let dry while clamped so wood would take the shape. Spar varnish is for the outside but what wood glue to hold the three strips together? Is there a glue that is head and tails o’er the rest?
    I have Envirotech, a two part epoxy I would clear coat the wood fishing lures with when I built some years back. I used it over the wood never between.
  • JamesRJamesR
    bicycle wheel wooden craftsmanship-


    me, would try the inside of a 24-inch rim for a jig. for glue, weldwood served for splicing aircraft wooden wing spars.
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