Easy way to straighten bowed bed wood

[McCoyAZ]

My old '64 has seen better days when it comes to the bed wood.

I am planning on putting a mill finished aluminum diamond plate in the bed but some of the boards were cracked and bowed up nearly 1/2 an inch, so I had to figure a way to flatten them.

I cleaned the cracks out and then wet the boards, spread Gorilla glue in the splits.

Then took a sheet of aluminum foil ( to keep the glue from sticking to the 1/4 inch plate), laid it over the boards, placed a 1/4" aluminum plate on top of that and placed my 20 ton hydraulic jack in the center of the plate.

Built a T Post that would reach the ceiling and placed it on the ram of the jack and commenced to pump iron. Being sure the T Post spanned 2 joists so I wouldn't punch a hole in the sheetrock.

Now I have to wait till morning to see if it did the job I am hoping for.

Pictures attached shows the T Post and the jack........

News at 11

[jeffahart]

Glad you used gorilla instead of titebond, since the wood was wet. Funny thing is the wood will probably split again, but right next to the glue, but that gorilla will probably hold.

Gluing is a way of life!

[McCoyAZ]

Well it worked, more or less.

Need to sand it a little, then put the diamond plate in.

[dragon65]

Use wax paper instead of foil