Here's an online source for bendable plywood

[bfauska]

I was looking through a catalog I got in the mail today and found that they carry bendable plywood of the style that many people here seem to be in search of and I frequently recommend.  In the past the only place I knew to get it from was local so I couldn't help folks search it out.  They have a few different types, the type labeled "Bendable Plywood" is probably the most similar to what I've used in the past the most often.  It is not super smooth and you would likely want to laminate it or smooth the surface with bondo or some kind of filler.  The type labeled "Bendable substrate plywood" is ready for paint or stain so it would be a nicer finish, but it obviously costs more.

All of my local sources only sell it in full size sheets too, and at only a slight savings per square foot.  The 1'x4' piece could be a great size for CP projects and things of that nature.

Here's the link:  Van Dyke's Restorers Bendable Plywood Search Results

[fjl]

Bendable plywood? I thought all plywood was capable of being bent. Please, do tell...

[bfauska]

All plywood can bend to a certain extent.  But most of it only bends slightly, unless it is very thin in which case to do anything useful with it you have to us several layers.  This plywood will bend to a much tighter radius than standard plywood because the layers are glued to each other with their grain aligned.  It does sacrifice strength, but once you've completed the bent part and fastened/glued it into place you have actually added some of the strength back in.  The more expensive of the two plywoods in the link actually has several relief cuts in the back side so that the thin layer along the front is the only thing bending, again it's not as strong as normal plywood, but to make curved shapes it's hard to find something easier to use.  The pictures of the products in the link should help explain it if my explanation is lacking.

[squirrellydw]

I am using "wiggle wood" for my jukebox, works great

[sstorkel]

If you're going to buy this stuff, keep in mind that it is only designed to bend in one direction! My local source only sells full sheets, which are listed as 4'x8' or 8'x4' depending on which direction they're designed to bend. One will allow you to make an 8' long tube with a 4' circumference, the other could make a 4' long tube with an 8' circumference. If you buy rectangular pieces, make sure they're designed to bend in the direction you need!

[bfauska]

Good point sstorkel.  I always have to specify when we order at work, but I failed to mention it here.  I think I just had a curved CP face in mind when looking at the pictures on the website and that's the way it was bending.

Definitely make sure you get it bending in the right orientation.