Bending Sheetrock

[BillS1935]

Has anyone tried bending sheetrock without wetting it. I thought of scoring the back about half way through, moving the steel ruler over an 1/8 of an inch and scoring it again at an angle and taking out that strip. Doing that about an inch apart for twelve inches, it's for a 14" backdrop and the rock is 1/4".

Thanks,

[ARTHILL]

Sounds difficult to me, but I have not tried it. That will work on pine and oak. Real thin sheet rock sounds more likly. I await what others might have tried.

[ndbprr]

That's the only way you could possibly bend it but I woule go at least 1/4" between score marks.  I'd also use joint compound on the front to level out the steps as what you will get will be a series of flat surfaces.  Light sanding should follow leveling it into a curved surface.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried bending sheetrock without wetting it. I thought of scoring the back about half way through, moving the steel ruler over an 1/8 of an inch and scoring it again at an angle and taking out that strip. Doing that about an inch apart for twelve inches, it's for a 14" backdrop and the rock is 1/4".

Thanks,

It will just break all the way through to the front paper coating if you try that.  All you will have is a thin paper sheet trying to hold everything together (very fragile).  You are better off bending (with wetting) two layers of thinner drywall or using 1/8 hardboard (several layers if more thickness is needed).  I would just just hardboard (Masonite) and make the front surfaces match up with the flat drywall sections.

 

[larak]

Alan is right.

Wetting is the way to go. A few years ago I wired a large addition to a church. It had some curved walls and arched ceilings. The rocker was incredible. It took three days but he bent 1/2" firecode rock into beautiful tight curves over wooden forms. Not a bump to be found.

The forms are the key. Find some cylinder of about the correct diameter, and lay the sheetrock over it. Wet gently and do not force it. Let the gravity create the bend. You can weight the edges, but start gently or it might break. Keep it damp and after the curve is in place, let dry then lift GENTLY into place.

Notice the key word? 

Good luck.

Karl 

 

 

 

[CraigN]

When I was rebuilding my house, I used 16 foot lenghts of sheetrock on both the ceiling and the walls. When I had it delivered, the guys carrying it into the house had to make a 90 degree turn to make it between a closet and a stairway.

They did it without breaking it ! Not even one single crease.

At 16 feet long, believe it or not, it is very flexible from end to end. So depending on how sharp your curve is, you might be able to bend it without wetting.

Craig 

[u.p. fan]

it all depends on the radius you want to bend and how far you want to bend it.  if you want a 4' radius at 90 degrees no problem. if you want a 12" radius at 90 degrees good luck.  give us more info so we can better help you out.  what is your radius you want and how far do you want to bend it??

[Sturgeon-Phish]

For the bend I've used both wet sheetrock and masonite with equal success.  The flex bead is the way to go to finish the edge either way.

Jim

[BillS1935]

Thanks for all the feedback... it's a corner wall I want to go around, the rock is 8' long and will be 14" high. I do have a weight lifting bar I could lay between two bar stools, or maybe two broom handles spaced apart and wet it. I have enough extra rock that I can cut from both sides to have a nice edge along the top. I'd like masonite but it's an exspense I'd rather not get into. I want the bend to where I can run an 18" radius 3-1/2" from it.