Mastering Bent Lamination
Learn the art of bent lamination with master craftsman Philip Morley. This course walks you through three powerful techniques—parallel, tapered, and double-tapered laminations—so you can create elegant curves and strong, lightweight parts for your furniture with confidence.
This course was released in 2025 and is not eligible for discounts
- 8 lessons
- 99 min
-
$99.00
Here's what you'll learn how to build:
What's included:
- Seven detailed videos with lifetime access (Closed Captioning available)
What you'll learn:
- What bent lamination is and why it’s stronger and more reliable than cutting curves from solid stock
- How to design and make a master template for consistent results
- Methods for building bending forms, including stacked MDF and ribbed constructions
- How to select, prepare, and cut laminations with the correct grain orientation
- Best practices for glue-ups, clamping strategies, and using packing tape or cauls
- Techniques for creating parallel, tapered, and double-tapered laminations
- How to set up and use a vacuum bag system for even pressure distribution
- Tips for controlling spring-back, reducing squeeze-out, and achieving clean surfaces
- How to process bent parts to final width, thickness, and length, and integrate them into furniture designs
About the Course
Bent lamination is one of the most versatile methods for adding graceful curves and strength to your woodworking projects. In this in-depth course, Philip Morley takes you step by step through the entire process, starting with simple parallel laminations and moving into more advanced tapered and double-tapered forms. Along the way, you’ll learn how to design and build forms, create precise laminations, and achieve flawless glue-ups using clamps or a vacuum bag system.
Philip demonstrates every stage, from developing a master template and building bending forms, to preparing stock, cutting laminations, and ensuring clean, consistent results. You’ll discover how to calculate thicknesses, manage grain orientation for a seamless appearance, and avoid common issues like spring-back.
By the end of the course, you’ll not only understand the technical side of bent laminations, but you’ll also gain the practical skills needed to incorporate these techniques into chairs, rockers, drawer fronts, mirrors, and other curved furniture components.
Whether you’re looking to expand your design vocabulary or simply want to master a time-tested method for building strong, refined parts, this course gives you the knowledge and hands-on demonstrations you need to bring your ideas to life.
Reviews:
This course is a fantastic addition to the Guild lineup. Bent lamination can be an intimidating technique for many woodworkers, but having someone as experienced as Philip break it down into clear, simple steps makes it much more approachable. The videos are top notch, concise, well produced, and packed with clear instruction. I find that whenever I watch a Guild course, I learn something, even if I never plan on building the project as presented. These technique-based courses are an efficient way to add new skills to your toolbox. If you’ve ever wanted to try bent lamination in a project, this course will definitely get you there.
About Your Instructor:
Philip Morley was born in London, England. After a rough academic start, struggling with dyslexia, he found his true passion in trade school where he studied for four years to become a joiner under the City and Guilds program. Once graduated, Philip worked as joiner doing restoration work on various prestigious historical buildings in central London. After moving to the US, he studied with furniture designer Richard Chillcott in Ruskin, Florida for three years before moving to Texas where he apprenticed with Michael Colca for 7 years. He is now a contributing author to Fine Woodworking Magazine and has been published in Woodworker West and Woodskills Magazine. He has taught at Austin Community College, Marc Adams School of Woodworking and Austin School of Furniture and Design. Phil continues to build one-of-a-kind pieces in his small studio located on his property where he can be close to his family.