How to Flatten Plywood

[partialresponse]

I needed a 12"X40" piece of 1/2 cherry plywood to make a cabinet door, but since I was unable to find cherry plywood in that thickness, I ended up gluing three 1/4" pieces together to make the panel (the finished panel is 9/16" thick). Unfortunately, the panel is not flat - it's curved along its longer dimension (the 40" dimension). This curve was probably inherited from the original 1/4" pieces I began with. I glued up these pieces on a flat table with weights distributed over the surface while the glue dried. Is there a better technique for next time? Actually, I glued up quite a number of panels like this, but only this one acquired a bow. Is there any way to fix this? Sounds hopeless.

Thanks
Kofi

[drumpriest]

This will happen if the lamination is unbalanced. It will also happen sometimes from humidity. put the piece up on sticks for a couple of days, frowny face style, and see if it improves.

In the future, I might suggest making the panels from baltic birch, and veneering them. You can get a vac press that can handle that size for 55$, and buy a big sheet of paper backed veneer pretty cheap.

[partialresponse]

...put the piece up on sticks for a couple of days, frowny face style...

Can you you elaborate on this? I'm sure it's something simple but I'd like to make sure I know what you mean.

Also, I have no idea what a vacuum press is. Can you please post a link to one online so I can see what you mean?

Many thanks
Kofi