Customer Reviews for Columbia Forest Products 1/8 in. x 4 ft. x 4 ft. PureBond Radius Bending Plywood Project Panel

Plies separate on cutting with fine blade on jig jaw. Adhesion of between plies is very poor

Very dissaponted and a waste of my money. The wood is heavely warped had bunch of cracks and is broken in a corner. I cannot use this wood for my project. Cant find a way to get a refund so I am out of my money. Never buying it again.

This plywood project panel appears to be completely free of interior voids or surface imperfections which makes it ideal for any use where appearance is important. Examining the edges it is not even possible to tell how many plies there are. It flexes easily so it can be used for any work that needs curvature in a single direction. Using either carpenters glue or epoxy glue very strong bonds are possible provided reasonable clamping time is allowed.

This 3/8" panel is very flexible. Much more flexible that I originally thought it would be since 3/8" is fairly thick for a flexible material. The minimum bend radius is probably about 12-14 inches. If you need something more flexible than this, check out the 1/4" version of this product. I also have tried this and its bend radius was about 8". Overall it's a good looking product. It's much more solid than the 1/4" version, which I am a fan of because it requires less backing to make it stable and keep it in a uniform shape. There were a few areas on one of the surfaces that had gouges and cracks in it, which I was not very happy about. It's always easier to work with a product that has a nice smooth finish. But, if it's a problem for you you could always fill in the cracks before you apply the laminate or paper-backed veneer to your project. It's also probably important to note that these cracks were only found on one side, so you could most likely avoid having that side visible as another solution.

This product will be great for any projects that require a rounded or contoured surface. It's very flexible and lightweight. I'm not sure on the exact minimum bend radius, but you could easily use this on any surface with a radius of 8-10 inches or greater. Any smaller and you might have a difficult time bending it into place, but it may work. The plywood is a bit rough on both sides, but it's also not intended to be a finish layer, so this isn't a problem for me. Just be sure to have enough support on the back side of the plywood when using it to make sure it's solid when finished. Since it's only 1/4 inch thick this plywood requires a sturdy backing to ensure it holds its form over time, and doesn't move when someone touches it.

I used this project panels, but I would not recommend them for simple projects like making walls and/or cellings. They are too pricey (price twice higher compare to similar 4x4 wood panels). The product is perfect for "bending" and "curving" projects. The panels are very flexible and they have good texture. Material is soft. It is easy to cut, screw and nail with hammer, but it is also easy to damage corners. I think, it good material for professionals, but not for the DIY person like me - I spent more money, but I could not use all potential of the product. That is why I don't recommend it.

Ordered this project panel for some holiday craft projects and it's going to work perfectly. This is a great size and I plan to cut it into multiple smaller signs. The wood has a nice grain to it and the boards are very flexible, which would be great for some uses. The finish is suitable for staining or painting and I plan to do some of both. I like the thinner boards because they aren't so heavy to ship or hang for seasonal signs.

When I ordered this bending plywood I didn’t have a specific use in mind for it. I was just intrigued with the concept and wanted to check it out as I’ve never worked with anything like it. I am impressed with its ability to bend without breaking. The quality of the wood itself isn’t great, so whatever project I decide to make with this board will definitely be covered with a veneer, just as the product description suggests.

I have built many projects that I had to bend wood. The problem is you have to soak the wood and then slowly bend while wet - then do more - I have had issues with some staining sometimes when doing fronts of bars. This wood - I was doubtful that it would work as I wanted. I went ahead and got the wood and decided to set the wood in the kitchen with a bend. This wood bent extremely well. I could do a long curve. It will not do a 90 turn instantly for those that wonder. It did get close to a 90 over 4 foot which is incredible. Get this wood if you are doing any curves - It is awesome.

I got a couple of these 3-ply panels to build curved cubbies for storing hats and gloves in a yurt (a round structure with walls that are vertically straight but horizontally curved). The ⅜” panels do not bend as much as the ¼” panels. The ⅜” panel curved enough for my project, but if you need a tight radius (less than about 18”’), I’d recommend the thinner ¼” panels. Also, the ¼” panel I got was significantly smoother with fewer cracks or imperfections than the ⅜” panel. Regardless of thickness, one side of the panel is smoother than the other and is intended to be the face; the other side of the panel is a bit rougher. As with any woodworking project, sand with a fine-grit paper prior to finishing for best results. For the rougher ⅜” panel, I started with 100 grit and finished with 150 grit. Note that the panel bends a lot in one dimension (so that the grain of the smooth side runs parallel to the axis of the bend, as shown in the photo) and not very much in the other dimension - keep this in mind while planning other components of your project if you want consistent grain dimension. I couldn’t find anywhere that mentioned what type of wood is used for the smooth side - the product brochure just says tropical hardwoods - but it looks like an open-grained hardwood such as birch. Last but not least, the brochure says that these panels contain no formaldehyde. The adhesives are soy-based and should be good for anyone who is either sensitive to off-gassing or is in California and can only buy CARB-approved products.