I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing back
on to the box.

On 12/06/14 13:22, Jimmy wrote:


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing back
on to the box.

hot water


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

On 12/06/2014 13:36, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 12/06/14 13:22, Jimmy wrote:


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before
screwing back
on to the box.

hot water

Or if you have a wallpaper stripper, steam it. (place in a plastic bag,
stick hose from stripper into one end and tie the bag round it, then
make a small exit hole in the other end. After half an hour or so it
will be quite malleable.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

I've never had much luck with that. I steamed a bit of wood that was coping
for fence that kept warping, but no matter what after some months it pulled
all the nails out again.
I speculated it was the natural oils in the wood that dried out and made it
deform.
Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"Jimmy" wrote in message
...


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess due
to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing
back
on to the box.

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 12/06/2014 13:36, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 12/06/14 13:22, Jimmy wrote:


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before
screwing back
on to the box.

hot water

Or if you have a wallpaper stripper, steam it. (place in a plastic bag,
stick hose from stripper into one end and tie the bag round it, then make
a small exit hole in the other end. After half an hour or so it will be
quite malleable.

Does the box have sentimental value or something?
just asking as maybe it'd be easier to just replace the roof board, or build
a new box completely?

On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:22:26 +0100, Jimmy wrote:

I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped ...

Cupped or warped? I would expect a bit of 8 x 6 x 3/4 to warp much
but it could cup depending on where in the log it has been cut from.

If it's cupped put it on cup down an maybe pull it down a bit flat
with screw in the centre, but be careful it might crack. But TBH
unless it's a huge gap, 3/8", I wouldn't be too fussed I doubt the
birds are. They'll be more interested in the entrance hole size.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Thursday, June 12, 2014 4:24:31 PM UTC+1, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:22:26 +0100, Jimmy wrote:

I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped ...

Cupped or warped? I would expect a bit of 8 x 6 x 3/4 to warp much
but it could cup depending on where in the log it has been cut from.
If it's cupped put it on cup down an maybe pull it down a bit flat
with screw in the centre, but be careful it might crack. But TBH
unless it's a huge gap, 3/8", I wouldn't be too fussed I doubt the
birds are. They'll be more interested in the entrance hole size.

Don't try flattening it with screws/nails, it'll just break. Just use it as it is.


NT

"Jimmy" wrote in message
...


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess due
to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing
back
on to the box.

Nothing you can do really.
Warping so badly arises because the plank was incorrectly cut from the tree.
Replace it.

On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 09:54:59 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Cupped or warped? I would expect a bit of 8 x 6 x 3/4 to warp much
but it could cup depending on where in the log it has been cut
from.
If it's cupped put it on cup down an maybe pull it down a bit flat
with screw in the centre, but be careful it might crack.

Don't try flattening it with screws/nails, it'll just break.

That's what I said. Really depends on how cupped (if it is cupped) it
is, soething that size and thickness ought to pull down 1/8" without
too much fuss.

Just use it as it is.

Aye, the birds won't mind unless the rain can really drive in.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:28:43 +0100, "harryagain"
wrote:


"Jimmy" wrote in message
.. .


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess due
to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing
back
on to the box.

Nothing you can do really.
Warping so badly arises because the plank was incorrectly cut from the tree.
Replace it.


Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put the
wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is now quite
pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own). I have just
clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re attach to box later
today. Thanks for suggestions.

On Fri, 13 Jun 2014 07:51:43 +0100, Jimmy wrote:

Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put
the wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is
now quite pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own).

Yeah but now it's soaking wet, wait until it has fully dried out
again.

I have just clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re
attach to box later today.

Think you'd be better off firmly fixing it back whilst it's still wet
and pliable. Once back outside with varying humidities it'll start
moving again.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"Jimmy" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:28:43 +0100, "harryagain"

wrote:


"Jimmy" wrote in message
. ..


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due
to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing
back
on to the box.

Nothing you can do really.
Warping so badly arises because the plank was incorrectly cut from the
tree.
Replace it.


Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put
the
wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is now
quite
pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own). I have just
clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re attach to box later
today. Thanks for suggestions.

It will just warp again.

On 13/06/2014 16:25, harryagain wrote:
"Jimmy" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:28:43 +0100, "harryagain"

wrote:


"Jimmy" wrote in message
...


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due
to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing
back
on to the box.

Nothing you can do really.
Warping so badly arises because the plank was incorrectly cut from the
tree.
Replace it.


Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put
the
wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is now
quite
pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own). I have just
clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re attach to box later
today. Thanks for suggestions.

It will just warp again.


Or split if clamped. Just hope you get lots of small splits and not one
big one

stuart noble wrote:
On 13/06/2014 16:25, harryagain wrote:
"Jimmy" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:28:43 +0100, "harryagain"

wrote:


"Jimmy" wrote in message
...


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due
to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before
screwing
back
on to the box.

Nothing you can do really.
Warping so badly arises because the plank was incorrectly cut from the
tree.
Replace it.


Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put
the
wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is now
quite
pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own). I have just
clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re attach to box
later
today. Thanks for suggestions.

It will just warp again.


Or split if clamped. Just hope you get lots of small splits and not one
big one
Wot a lot of fuss, just replace it with something that does not mind
weather cedar or summat. (although if you were in australia the cockies
would eat it)

"Gazz" wrote in message ...

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 12/06/2014 13:36, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 12/06/14 13:22, Jimmy wrote:


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before
screwing back
on to the box.

hot water

Or if you have a wallpaper stripper, steam it. (place in a plastic bag,
stick hose from stripper into one end and tie the bag round it, then make
a small exit hole in the other end. After half an hour or so it will be
quite malleable.

Does the box have sentimental value or something?
just asking as maybe it'd be easier to just replace the roof board, or
build a new box completely?


You could go to B&Q and buy a new piece of warped wood-)

--
Adam

On 12/06/2014 15:57, Brian Gaff wrote:
I've never had much luck with that. I steamed a bit of wood that was coping
for fence that kept warping, but no matter what after some months it pulled
all the nails out again.
I speculated it was the natural oils in the wood that dried out and made it
deform.
Brian

You get more "holding force" with screws

"ARW" wrote in message
...
"Gazz" wrote in message ...

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 12/06/2014 13:36, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 12/06/14 13:22, Jimmy wrote:


I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess
due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now
quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before
screwing back
on to the box.

hot water

Or if you have a wallpaper stripper, steam it. (place in a plastic bag,
stick hose from stripper into one end and tie the bag round it, then
make a small exit hole in the other end. After half an hour or so it
will be quite malleable.

Does the box have sentimental value or something?
just asking as maybe it'd be easier to just replace the roof board, or
build a new box completely?


You could go to B&Q and buy a new piece of warped wood-)

i did actually think about posting "put a B&Q badge on it, then everyone
will think it's supposed to look like it does"

On Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:25:38 +0100, "harryagain"
wrote:

snip

Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put
the
wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is now
quite
pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own). I have just
clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re attach to box later
today. Thanks for suggestions.

It will just warp again.


8 off 1.5 inch screws says it won't.

"Jimmy" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:25:38 +0100, "harryagain"

wrote:

snip

Not true at all: as The Natural Philosopher and others suggested, I put
the
wood in boiling water, weighted down, left it over night and it is now
quite
pliable (most of the warping actually reversed on its own). I have just
clamped it in vice to make edges parallel, and will re attach to box
later
today. Thanks for suggestions.

It will just warp again.


8 off 1.5 inch screws says it won't.

Then it will split.

On Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:22:26 +0100, Jimmy wrote:



I have a bird box and the roof of it has become very warped - I guess due to
the varying weather conditions over a couple of years.
Part of the roof is approx 8inches by 6 inches by 3/4 inch and is now quite
bent. What could I soak this piece in to "soften it up" before screwing back
on to the box.

I've just done a quick and dirty repair to a warped double-bass bridge
(the bass has to be used in a concert this weekend and there's no time
to prepare and fit a new bridge) by putting it in a pressure cooker
for five minutes on the max pressure setting then, while still hot and
pliable, clamping it onto a sturdy baseboard in the shape I want it to
take and leaving it overnight to cool and set in that position. A
double bass bridge is made of maple and is very roughly the size you
describe.

If you haven't got a pressure cooker, soak in very hot water for much
longer: it will take a long time for the heat to reach the innermost
fibres but again, once it has heated right through, clamp it
immediately but gently into the required shape. I generally
over-compensate a tad since the wood will probably spring back
slightly when the clamps come off.

Nick