After putting down hardwood floors recently, I'm covering the edges with a
red oak quarter round. One area has a 14' half circle - it's a bow window
area. What is the best way to install the quarter round in this area? The
pieces are 8' long and 5/8" thick. I doubt the pieces would make the bend
in 8' and 6' pieces without cracking. Should I use smaller pieces, kerf
the back, soak the pieces in water around a mold? Not sure how to do
this...

Thank for tips. Cheers!
Dukester

Dukester wrote:
After putting down hardwood floors recently, I'm covering the edges with a
red oak quarter round. One area has a 14' half circle - it's a bow window
area. What is the best way to install the quarter round in this area? The
pieces are 8' long and 5/8" thick. I doubt the pieces would make the bend
in 8' and 6' pieces without cracking. Should I use smaller pieces, kerf
the back, soak the pieces in water around a mold? Not sure how to do
this...

Thank for tips. Cheers!
Dukester
Dennisketch suggests:
The best solution that I have found for bending mouldings to a radius
is to make yourself a simple steamer. In your case an 8' length of
galvanized downspout pipe,(this is the pipe used to drain water off
your roof),it can be the square type or the round. Cap off one end.
Drill 2-3 small holes in this cap1/16" or so.Put your mouldings in the
pipe. Slip a 90 degee bend onthe open end,this will keep the molding
from sliding out, this should fit over the spout of a tea kettle that
will produce all the steam you need to make your moldings pliable, in
about 30 minutes of boiling water to create the steam. I use a small
hotplate as a heat source. I do this on the floor of my shop of my shop
with the pipe supported by wood blocks.Be careful...once the steam
starts the pipe will get very hot. when it has steamed for about 30min.
Let it cool to where you can handle it with gloves.Overbend the molding
while it is warm. Allow it to cool in this shape, and it will stay in
this shape. I use this process for building wood boats. Have fun, be
safe!

On Sun, 3 Dec 2006 17:28:54 -0600, "Dukester"
wrote:

After putting down hardwood floors recently, I'm covering the edges with a
red oak quarter round. One area has a 14' half circle - it's a bow window
area. What is the best way to install the quarter round in this area? The
pieces are 8' long and 5/8" thick. I doubt the pieces would make the bend
in 8' and 6' pieces without cracking. Should I use smaller pieces, kerf
the back, soak the pieces in water around a mold? Not sure how to do
this...

Get enough to go the length twice. Rip both sets in half, with the
kerf on opposite sides. Recombine the two halves and it should bend
fine. You could do it in 3rds just as easily. Works better if you're
painting, but as long as the two pieces are a good color match it
shouldn't be noticeable.


-Leuf

On Sun, 3 Dec 2006 17:28:54 -0600, "Dukester"
wrote:

After putting down hardwood floors recently, I'm covering the edges with a
red oak quarter round. One area has a 14' half circle - it's a bow window
area. What is the best way to install the quarter round in this area? The
pieces are 8' long and 5/8" thick. I doubt the pieces would make the bend
in 8' and 6' pieces without cracking. Should I use smaller pieces, kerf
the back, soak the pieces in water around a mold? Not sure how to do
this...

Are you using real 1/4 round or the more common base shoe?
If base shoe, it's only 1/2" thick and I would think could make the
bend. I've received some from the lumber yard that was already bent
that much. :-) Otherwise I think Luef has the simple solution.

Mike O.

"Leuf" wrote in message
...


Get enough to go the length twice. Rip both sets in half, with the
kerf on opposite sides. Recombine the two halves and it should bend
fine. You could do it in 3rds just as easily. Works better if you're
painting, but as long as the two pieces are a good color match it
shouldn't be noticeable.

Ok, call me ignorant. What do you mean by "rip both sets in half, with the
kerf on opposite sides"? Are saying to rip the pieces lengthwise, then
attach the back half, then the front half over top of the back? Sorry I
can't get the picture in my mind..

On Mon, 4 Dec 2006 09:33:05 -0600, "Dukester"
wrote:

Get enough to go the length twice. Rip both sets in half, with the
kerf on opposite sides. Recombine the two halves and it should bend
fine. You could do it in 3rds just as easily. Works better if you're
painting, but as long as the two pieces are a good color match it
shouldn't be noticeable.

Ok, call me ignorant. What do you mean by "rip both sets in half, with the
kerf on opposite sides"? Are saying to rip the pieces lengthwise, then
attach the back half, then the front half over top of the back? Sorry I
can't get the picture in my mind..


I think what he's saying is to rip one piece and then move the fence
one blade width and rip the other piece. Then put the two pieces
(from separate boards) back together. If you just rip one piece of
quarter round you will lose the material from the cut and they will
not fit back together smoothly.

Mike O.