WoodUbend is an innovative product used in furniture restoration, decoration and craft projects. They are flexible wooden moldings and ornaments that become flexible when heated. This allows the frames and ornaments to be easily applied to curved, round and uneven surfaces.
1. What is WoodUbend made of?
WoodUbend is made from a specially formulated wood mixture consisting of real wood and other natural materials. It has the texture and appearance of real wood, but retains its flexibility when heated. This allows it to be bent, shaped and applied to various furniture surfaces.
WoodUbend ornaments can be used both indoors and outdoors. In case of outdoor use, it is important to protect your project with Annie Sloan Lacquer.
2. Numerous benefits
Using WoodUbend offers several advantages and possibilities:
- Flexibility: WoodUbend can be bent and shaped to fit curved, rounded and complex surfaces. This allows furniture and decorative objects to be embellished with detailed wooden moldings, regardless of the shape of the surface.
- Easy to apply: WoodUbend can be applied to furniture and other surfaces using glue. When heated with a heat source, such as a heat gun, it becomes temporarily flexible and can be pressed and shaped onto the desired surface. After cooling, it retains its shape and adheres firmly to the surface.
- Versatility: WoodUbend is available in different designs, styles and sizes. From classic and traditional moldings to more contemporary and modern designs, there is a wide selection available to suit different tastes and decorating styles.
- Customizability: WoodUbend can be edited and customized to individual needs. It can be cut, sanded and painted to meet specific design requirements. This offers the opportunity to create unique and personalized decorative accents.
3. Method
Applying a WoodUbend ornament or decorative frame is easy. Below we list the steps you need to follow when using WoodUbend:
- Preparation: Make sure the surface you want to apply WoodUbend to is clean and dry. Remove any dust, dirt or grease residue to ensure good adhesion.
- Heating: Use a heat source, such as a heat gun, to heat the WoodUbend material. Hold the heat gun at a safe distance and slowly move it back and forth over the WoodUbend piece. The goal is to make the material flexible and pliable. Be careful to avoid overheating and burning.
In addition to a heat gun, there are other heat sources that you can use to heat WoodUbend and make it flexible. Here are some alternatives:
- Hairdryer: A hairdryer can serve as an alternative heat source. Use the highest heat setting and hold the hairdryer close to the WoodUbend material while moving it slowly back and forth. Be careful not to hold the hairdryer too close to prevent overheating.
- Heating plate: If you have a heating plate or an electric stove, you can use this to heat WoodUbend. Place the WoodUbend piece on the heating plate and let it heat for a few seconds until it becomes flexible.
- Oven: An oven can also be used to heat WoodUbend. Place the WoodUbend piece on a baking sheet and heat it at a low temperature, such as 100-150 degrees Celsius. Keep a close eye on it and remove it as soon as it is flexible enough.
- Hairdryer: A hairdryer can serve as an alternative heat source. Use the highest heat setting and hold the hairdryer close to the WoodUbend material while moving it slowly back and forth. Be careful not to hold the hairdryer too close to prevent overheating.
Remember that safety comes first when working with heat sources. Follow the heat source manufacturer's safety instructions and guidelines and ensure a well-ventilated area during the heating process.
- Shaping: Once the WoodUbend material has sufficiently heated and become flexible, you can bend, shape and adjust it to the desired surface. Work quickly but carefully, as the material retains its shape after cooling. You can shape it with your hands or use a tool such as a spatula to help with placement and positioning.
If your WoodUbend ornament is too large for your project, you can use sandpaper or a utility knife to remove the excess. The ornaments can be sanded so smooth that you would never know it ever looked different. Cutting the WoodUbend to size must be done warm. When cold, the ornaments are brittle and can break when pressure is applied, but when heated they are pliable!
- Application: Apply a suitable adhesive to the surface to which you want to attach WoodUbend. You can use a strong wood glue or a special glue for flexible moldings. Press the WoodUbend material firmly onto the adhesive, making sure it adheres well to the surface.
- To heat: Add heat again while pressing the WoodUbend firmly against the surface. This way you guarantee perfect adhesion.
- Finishing: Check that the WoodUbend material is firmly in place and has no air bubbles or loose areas. You can carefully remove any excess glue with a damp cloth. Allow the WoodUbend material to cool and harden completely according to the instructions of the glue you used.
- Finishing and Painting: Once the WoodUbend material has been applied and fully cured, you can further finish and paint it according to your preference. You can sand, paint, stain or varnish it to integrate it into the overall design and finish of your furniture or decorative object.
4. First aid for WoordUbend problems
4.1 Help, my WoodUbend is broken!
Accidents can happen. So it is possible that despite careful packaging, an ornament may break during shipping. Fortunately, repairing a broken WoodUbend is not that difficult. Here are some steps you can follow to repair a broken WoodUbend:
- Cleaning: Clean the broken parts of the WoodUbend by carefully removing any dust, dirt or adhesive residue. Use a soft cloth and possibly a mild detergent to clean the surface.
- Breaking: If the WoodUbend has broken into large pieces, you may choose to break it further to get a better fit. Use pliers or your hands to gently break the broken pieces into smaller parts. Make sure you do this carefully to avoid damaging the pieces further.
- Heating: Use a heat source, such as a heat gun or hairdryer, to heat the broken pieces of WoodUbend. Focus the heat on the back of the pieces and slowly move the heat source back and forth. The goal is to make the WoodUbend flexible and pliable.
- Repair: Apply a suitable adhesive to the broken pieces of WoodUbend. You can use a strong wood glue or a glue recommended by the manufacturer of WoodUbend. Press the heated pieces together firmly to connect them. Make sure the broken edges fit together snugly and that there are no gaps or overlaps.
- Shaping and adjustment: After repairing the WoodUbend, you can carefully shape and adjust it to the desired contours and angles. Work slowly and carefully to position the repaired pieces in the right place and avoid any seams or irregularities. Use your hands or a tool such as a spatula to assist with shaping and adjusting.
- Curing: Allow the repaired WoodUbend to cool completely and harden according to the instructions of the glue you used. Make sure you respect the recommended curing time before taking any further steps.
- Finishing and Painting: Once the repaired WoodUbend has fully cured, you can further finish and paint it to integrate it into the overall design and finish of your furniture or decorative object. You can sand, paint, stain or varnish it according to your preference.
4.2 Help, I want to delete my WoodUbend!
Are you not satisfied with the placement of your WoodUbend on your project? Don't worry, you can remove your WoodUbend quite easily. Removing WoodUbend may require some caution and care, especially if it is firmly attached to the surface. Here are some steps you can follow to remove WoodUbend:
- Heating Process: Use a heat source, such as a heat gun or hairdryer, to heat the WoodUbend material. Focus the heat on the WoodUbend piece and slowly move the heat source back and forth across the surface. The purpose is to soften the adhesive that holds the WoodUbend material in place.
- Gently loosen: As you heat the WoodUbend material, you can gently try to loosen it from the surface. For example, use a thin spatula or putty knife to gently lift and loosen the WoodUbend piece. Work slowly and carefully to avoid damage to the surface.
- Removing adhesive residue: After the WoodUbend material has been removed, adhesive residue may remain on the surface. Use a suitable adhesive remover, such as an acetone-based solvent or a special adhesive remover, to gently remove the adhesive residue. Apply the adhesive remover to a soft cloth and gently rub the adhesive residue until it comes off.
- Cleaning the surface: After the adhesive residue has been removed, clean the surface with a mild detergent and water to remove any adhesive remover residue. Dry the surface thoroughly before proceeding with further finishing or decoration.
It is important to be careful during the removal process to avoid damage to the surface. Practice patience and work slowly to loosen the WoodUbend material without damaging the furniture piece or surface.
Note: Please note that on some surfaces, such as porous wood or delicate finishes, removing WoodUbend and adhesive residue may cause minor damage. It is always a good idea to test on a small, inconspicuous area first before proceeding with removing WoodUbend from the entire surface.
4.3 Help, I cut my WoodUbend molding too short!
If you cut your WoodUbend trim too short, there are a few possible solutions:
- Stretching: WoodUbend moldings have a stretching capacity of approximately 10% when heated. Heat the molding with a heat source and apply glue to both ends of the molding. Stretch the molding and push both ends together. Hold until cool.
- Extend with a new piece: If you have some unused WoodUbend trim, you can cut a new piece and attach it to the piece that is too short. Heat both ends of the molding and then apply a suitable adhesive to secure them together. Make sure the connection is firm and seamless.
- Fill with wood filler: If you do not have an extra WoodUbend molding, you can consider filling the part that is too short with wood filler. Choose a wood filler that is suitable for your surface and desired finish. Apply the wood filler in the part that is too short and shape it to the desired shape and contours. Then sand and process the wood filler until it blends seamlessly with the original trim.
- Hide with decorative elements: If the short molding is not too noticeable, you can choose to add decorative elements to hide the problem. These could be decorative buttons, metal accents, paint or other decorative details that distract from the too-short piece.