curving plywood?

[Mace Canute]

Wow, thanks guys. BCP, according to your link it appears I could bend the 1/2" at a 20" radius without anything else... and that is regular plywood. Am I reading that right?

From this link? http://schmeling.com/reference/pdf_files/plywood_bending_radius.pdf

For the thickness of plywood in inches the bending radius is given in feet.

 

[Depmandog]

Bendy MDF Sheet - Rockler Woodworking Tools

Rockier has MDF that will bend to a 6" radius.

Not cheap at $22 for a 24" x 48" piece, but if it solves your problem... Plus you might find some other goodies to buy. Love this store!!

 

[s219]

I'd probably try 1/8" luan myself. Or if you can access some aluminum sheet, that would give a nice metallic look with no paint! Could make the screws look like boiler rivets. Could also buy HVAC galvanized steel sheet (readily available). Or if you did want paint, use steel sheet.

There are also other materials readily available at home stores, like PVC panel and other plastic panel products for kitchen/bath wall surfaces. They bend very easily and uniformly (I remember buying a sheet once for a project, and rolling it up to fit in my car).

With all these other options that bend with little to no fuss, wood would probably be last on my list.

 

[Baby Grand]

I had good luck gluing up thin (1/16 birch) strips of plywood with a high quality glue.
The key to success was making a form in which the lay-up could be clamped & to use lots of clamps.
Method 4 of 5 in the link:
5 Ways to Bend Plywood - wikiHow