BP48_Z_FirmaFlex_Bendable_Fiber_Board Instructions for FirmaFlexTM Bendable Fiber Board PLEASE READ ENTIRE INSTRUCTION SHEET BEFORE WORKING WITH FIRMAFLEXTM BENDABLE FIBER BOARD FirmaFlexTM Bendable Fiber Board is used in both straight and curved applications. FirmaFlexTM is ideal for cornices, arches and wall hung headboards. It is not recommended for use as a mounting board alone. It must be supported with a face board. Cutting: check if the board is square. DO NOT USE TABLE SAWS, CIRCULAR SAWS OR MITER SAWS For straight cuts, use a straight edge as guide, clamp both the straight edge and the board firmly on your work surface with quick grip bar clamps, use a 65mm rotary cutter and cut firmly into the board. Splicing: Checking: Before starting your project, use a T-Square to For curved designs, clamp the board to your work surface with quick grip bar clamps, cut the board with a jigsaw (saber saw) using a fine tooth blade labeled “10TPI (10 teeth per inch, for fine finishing in wood)”. If longer lengths or wider pieces are desired, splice the boards together as necessary. For cornice boards, splice before cutting decorative shaped edges. Step 1) Use a commercially available hot glue gun to apply hot glue to both surfaces, and quickly butt the two together. The pieces must be stapled together as shown in Step 2. Step 2) Use a household or craft stapler to splice the glued pieces together. Choose fine gauge staples. The staple leg length should be 3/8” long. Staple over the joint on both front and back sides, placing the staples about 1/8” apart. Spliced piece remains flexible. Assembling: FirmaFlexTM can be used alone or with wood: arched frames made with a plywood face board and a FirmaFlexTM dust board, or cornice made of a wood dust board and a FirmaFlexTM face board and returns. Assemble the pieces with Rowley DIY trim screws (stk# SRS6158/). Place the fasteners about 2”~3” apart. If use fasteners not sold by Rowley DIY, make sure the fastener length is at least 1 1/2” long. Test how well the fasteners holding the pieces together on scrap pieces first. Pieces may be pre assembled with hot glue. Hot gluing is an optional step which allows more control when assemble larger pieces, especially the curved or arched frames. You must screw the pieces together after gluing. Upholstering: Use the fine gauge, 3/8” leg length staples for stapling most fabrics to FirmaFlex. If fabrics is extremely thick, longer legged staples may be used. Staples should not poke through to the other side of the board. Hinging: Use the same fine gauge, 1/2” or 5/8” leg length staples when stapling into the edge of FirmaFlex. Shorter staples will not hold as well in the edges. Stapling welt cord to the bottom edge of cornice Stapling fabric to back of cornice FirmaFlex is self hinging. No additional hardware is necessary for bay or large window treatments. Hinges for Cornice Face Boards Use a 45mm rotary cutter to cut half way through on the back side of the face board. Close up view of hinge after scoring with rotary cutter. Hinges for Board Mounted Soft Treatments FirmaFlex Hinges can be used to join wood dust boards for soft treatments in bay windows or very large windows. The hinges work with both straight cut and miter cut dust boards. Hinges are made by scoring small pieces of FirmaFlex as shown on the left. Each dust board, is cut separately, then attached to the adjacent dust board with only the hinges. Place hinges vertically, under the dust boards, flush with the front edge. Attach hinges with our trim screws (Stk# SRS6158). Trim Screws Fold the board along the cut to create a hinge. Ideal for fitting a bay window. Trim Screws FirmaFlex hinges are mounted under the dust boards, flush with the front edge. Straight Cut Dust Boards for a Bay Window Front View Miter Cut Dust Boards for a Bay Window Back View Bending: Bending Narrow Strips: FirmaFlex is very Flexible and bends easily for arched dust Boards. Heating is not required when bending narrow strips 2”-8” wide. The size of the hinges will depend on the overall size of the window treatment. The hinges should be wide enough to fully support the side boards when the treatment is lifted by the middle board. Recommended size is at least 8” wide by 3” high before scoring. This allows 4” of support under each section of the dust board. Contouring wide Pieces: To contour large pieces for curved cornice face boards etc., Use a steam iron to heat FirmaFlex prior to bending. Steam and bend a small area at a time, working until desired shape is achieved. Updated: July, 2012