Cupped board, advice?

[mcooley]

I have a couple pieces of 6" wide and 1/2" thickness curly Maple stock that cupped. I think I can minimize some of it by taking from the middle of the board. But two 6" pieces will need to be joined to make the correct width for the doors.

I have not tried to apply water and steam from an iron yet but wondering what other techniques people have tried? Problem of course is the boards need to be kept at 1/2" and will be captured inside the stiles and rails of a small cabinet door no larger than 15" by 20".

Thanks

 

[w802h]

How cupped is the board?  What if you cut the boards in half and re-jointed the edges square so that each door was 4 - 3" boards.  The grain should line-up pretty well.  No?

 

[mcooley]

Thanks. The edges are cupped more than at the center of the board. It's not a really deep cup either. Going to try heat first and then see where I'm at.

 

[Bohdan]

You can also try deep grooving the back of the boards which will enable them to straighten and stay that way under pressure. Drawing boards were always grooved to maintain flatness.

 

[mcooley]

You can also try deep grooving the back of the boards which will enable them to straighten and stay that way under pressure. Drawing boards were always grooved to maintain flatness.

Thanks this may be what I end up doing.