Kerfing

I wanted to write a little post on Kerfing to get people to get inspired by what can be achieved with laser cutting..... And no, kerfing is not some fancy skateboard move or dirty word!

Kerfing is when cuts are made into a material (most commonly wood) to bend and shape it. Dukta, a fabication company based in Germany have a great video on Vimeo that shows just how bendy wood can become after the process. Sometimes cuts are made right through the material that is being shaped and other times they only go part of the way through. Kerfing for this reason can be used not only as a technique for bending, but also as a decorative feature. See below:

Kerfing achieved by laser cutting right the way through the material.source:http://www.libationlab.com/kerf-bending-coffee-cup-cuffs/

Kerfing achieved by laser cutting right the way through the material.

source:http://www.libationlab.com/kerf-bending-coffee-cup-cuffs/

Kerfing achieved by saw blade, cutting only part way through the material.source: http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-bend-wood/index.html

Kerfing achieved by saw blade, cutting only part way through the material.

source: http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-bend-wood/index.html

Kerfing can be achieved in many ways, including cutting with a hand saw but when laser machines become involved, you can produce some incredible results that are usually much more intricate as the laser is often more precise. The coffee cup cuffs made by Libation Lab (above) are a good example of the level of intricacy you can achieve with lasers. 

Ziba, a design and innovation consultancy based in Portland, Oregon, has used kerfing in a very clever way to create folding auditorium seats called 'Jumpseats' for their own studio. The kerfing used has created a really innovative product that looks really modern, clean and practical.

Kerfing is not just confined to straight cuts either. There are incredible patterns that can be cut by lasers to also achieve the same movement within wood. Just look at the image to the right and you will start to get an idea as to what extent you can push the process of kerfing. So get thinking about your next project and whether you want to try out 'laser kerfing' for yourself. Just get in contact with us for more information if you need some advice or a quote for your kerfing project! 

 

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