I missed the original post for this thread, but as a woodworker and 
having installed my westy interior from near-scratch I have a couple of 
comments. I used to run and exhibit shop where curved work was more 
common than straight work, and so am very familiar with creating curves 
in wood.

First, there is no quarter-inch (or its metric equivalent) ply anywhere 
in the westy. There's 3 mm on the walls and ceiling, and it bends much 
easier than the thicker material.

There's no need to use oak ply, practically the stiffest material on 
earth.

A cabinet shop or woodworker's supply can order a material called 
bending ply which is plywood with all the laminate layers running in 
the same grain direction. It is very stiff in one direction and very 
flexible in the other.

If the two axii of bending converge, i.e. aren't parallel, then the 
anglke with have to be figured, the ply cut down the center and 
butt-clued to accomodate for the angle.

You might do the same thing with some cheap door skins if your building 
supply has them.

A paper or cardboard  pattern made before hand will make all this 
simpler no matter how you do it.

The relief method of cutting grooves works well if you set it up well. 
I would not recommend a table saw but rather a big table top and a 
circular saw with the blade depth set correctly. A router would work 
fine. Both need to be guided by a straigth edge that can be clamped to 
the table and moved over say 1/4 inch at a time or so, adjusted for the 
width of the kerf or groove you're removing.

This approach is not likely to work well on oak ply, Birch would be 
better, luan or some other mahogany better still.

Jim

On Dec 14, 2004, at 10:16 PM, Peter McHugh wrote:

> newbie to the list here; been "lurking", trying to soak up some smarts 
> from
> all you list veterans.  the insights and expertise are absolutely 
> terrific
> and are helping to guide me thru a mechanicing renaissance (sp?) of 
> sorts
> here in redsoxnation.
>
> i did happen to spend a few years working thru school as a 
> cabinet-maker,
> among other things, and jimt's query caught my eye as an opportunity to
> contribute:
>
> jimt wrote:
>
> "Was doing some measurements to put in the 1/4 inch oak paneling into 
> the
> cab
> ceiling and ran into an interesting problem.
>
> There is a curve that seems to be sharper than 1/4 inch will handle.
>
> A trick I have seen is to take a router and put some small grooves 
> down the
> length of the part to be curved.
>
> Would this work for the standard quarter inch ply?  Trying to avoid 
> wasting
> a sheet.
> (prices have gone up again on sheet)"
>
> in my experience:
>
> a router wouldn't be my first choice; never seen a router bit that'd 
> cut a
> thin enuf rip.  better choice for 1/4" stock would be your trusty 
> table saw
> with a 1/16"w blade using many close together rips  to turn the 
> corner.  try
> not to cut into the veneer layer; you should be able to get what you 
> want
> with an 1/8" cut.  if it still cracks, steam it as well.
>
> best, bostonpete
> 1991 carat, 225K mi on original tranny and engine (5 heads tho); 
> bought new
> and ready for refurb;
> past vw's include '68 camper, '71 super beetle, '75 camper (scuse me,
> "westy", for you listers)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of jimt
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 7:18 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Any wood worker cabinetmakers?
>
>
> Was doing some measurements to put in the 1/4 inch oak paneling into 
> the cab
> ceiling and ran into an interesting problem.
>
> There is a curve that seems to be sharper than 1/4 inch will handle.
>
> A trick I have seen is to take a router and put some small grooves 
> down the
> length of the part to be curved.
>
> Would this work for the standard quarter inch ply?  Trying to avoid 
> wasting
> a sheet.
> (prices have gone up again on sheet)
>
> ����������������������������������������
> jimt
> Planned insanity is best.
> Remember that sanity is optional.
> http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
> http://www.westydriver.com
>