How to Flatten Warped Wood

Wood often warps when exposed to moisture and heat. You can apply moisture and heat on the opposite side of the warping part to return the wood to its original state and effectively flatten the panel. Lightly warped wood is usually treatable with heat and moisture, but with severe warping, you may need to apply pressure to flatten the wood.

Table of Contents

Using an iron

Wrap the wooden board in a damp towel. Moisten a towel or two, making sure to cover all of the warped wood. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Ideally, the towel should be large enough to cover the entire panel. Choose a towel that can withstand the heat of the iron.
When wetting the towel, you need to soak the towel in water until it is completely wet, then wring it out. The towel will be damp but not wet enough to drip.

Place a wooden board wrapped with a damp cloth on the ironing table. Place the wooden board wrapped in a damp cloth on an ironing board or a hard surface. The convex side of the board is facing up.

The concave side of the board is placed face down.
The surface to place the wood panel must be firm and withstand the high heat of the iron.

Leave the table on the hottest setting. Turn on the steam mode and the highest temperature of the iron.

Wait 2-5 minutes for the iron to heat up.
Note that the iron must have a steam mode. Dry irons are not recommended.

Press the iron on the towel-covered surface. Press the iron down on one end of the towel and slowly slide the iron over the entire surface, pressing evenly to apply even pressure over the entire wooden surface. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Hold the table for 5-10 seconds on one point before sliding to the next.
Each ironing point should overlap slightly to ensure that the entire wood surface is treated.
Do not leave the iron on the towel unattended at any time. The iron can burn the towel and the wood underneath if left too long.

Use the sun

Wrap the wood in a damp towel. Moisten several large towels and wrap them around the wooden board to seal.

You can use towels, sheets, or rags. The material you use to wrap the wood should retain moisture and be wide enough to fully wrap the board.
Turn on the faucet to run water on the towel until it is completely wet, then squeeze out the water. The towel should be damp as you wrap it around the wood, but not soggy.

Place the board in direct sunlight. Dry the towel wrap in a sunny area. The concave side of the curved part is below, the convex side is up. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You can spread a plastic cloth underneath the wood to prevent water from soaking into the surrounding area.
This method will be most effective when the weather is hot and dry. If it’s cold, cloudy or wet, it may not work.
For best results, choose a firm surface to place the panel on, such as on a sidewalk or outdoor deck. Laying on the lawn is fine, but drying will be less effective if the board is placed on a soft surface.

Spray more water if needed. Depending on the warping, you will need to dry the board in the sun for 2-4 days. Spray more water on the towel during drying to keep the wood moist.

As with the above method, you need to use a damp cloth but not wet enough to drip.
Sunlight will heat the wood and increase the wood’s ability to absorb moisture. As the moisture in the towel will be absorbed into the wood surface, the wood panel will begin to bend back to its original state.

Let dry until the wood panel is warped. The entire process may take several days depending on the extent of the damage. You need to check regularly. Once the wood is flat, you can remove the wrap and let the wood dry.

At night when the sun is out, you should bring the wood panel into the house, put it in a warm place with the concave side facing down.
If the board does not improve after a few days, you may need to use another method.

Use pressure

Cover the wood with a damp paper towel. Moisten several sheets of paper towels and lay them over the recesses of the wood.

Thick paper towels are ideal for this method, but absorbent paper or regular paper will also work. However, the material you use must be damp and wide enough to cover the warping wood.
Place the tissue under running water, then carefully squeeze out the excess water. The paper towel should be damp as you cover the board, but not so wet that it drips.
With this method, you simply fold the damp paper towels into the concave side of the wooden board. By concentrating moisture on the concave surface, you can direct the bent wood back to its original flat state. The concave side will absorb moisture, while the convex side will dry out.

Cover the wooden board and paper towels with cling film. Wrap several layers of cling film around the board and a damp paper towel under the recess of the board. The cover film must be tight and not move. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

The wrap will slow water evaporation, so the paper towels and wood stay moist longer.
Make sure the cling film covers all sides of the board, not just the part with the damp paper towels.

Place the board in the clamp. Place the board in the clamp and tighten the clamp gently until the bent wood begins to straighten out. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Handle with care when tightening the clamp. If you over-tighten, the board may crack instead of flattening.

Leave for a week. Leave the wrapped and clamped board in a warm place for a week.

Check regularly where the panel clamps are located if you notice any signs of damage.
Place the wood paneling as warm as possible for the first week. A temperature of 65 degrees Celsius is ideal, but if it’s not possible to maintain this temperature, any hottest room in your home should suffice.
You can warm the panel by placing it in direct sunlight, a heat lamp, an electric blanket, or a heating mat. Maintain heat on wood for a minimum of 6-8 hours per day.

Things you need

Using an iron

Moist towel
Ironing table
Steam iron

Use the sun

Moist towel
Water spray
Plastic silk

Use pressure

Tissue
Food wrap
Clamping table
Heat lamp

Steps

Using an iron

Use the sun

Use pressure

Things you need

Using an iron

Use the sun

Use pressure

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