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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?
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Comments
This is a mountain bike fender that cost $12 that I fastened with two tie straps to my rack. Works great.
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!
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.
I have read about glueing strips to-
gether. Am still considering it.
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.
me, would try the inside of a 24-inch rim for a jig. for glue, weldwood served for splicing aircraft wooden wing spars.