How to Make a Smooth Curve with Cardboard (6 Easy Ways to Bend Cardboard)

[@FrancesMcCann-mx8hf]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! I make cardboard model cities to scale with matchbox and HO scale trains. I almost never use curves because they are so difficult but i wanted to include them in a train station i am going to make. Going to use this video!

[@ashblack4351]

Looks great. All methods are very helpful. Thanks and God bless you too

[@MakerBrain]

thank you. It is encouraging to hear that you got something out of each method, Ash Black. I hope you are able to take your crafting skills to the next level.
Kindly,
-Eli Tennant

[@vsen7]

Another video with very helpful tips and tricks. Thank you.

[@MakerBrain]

You are welcome, V Sen!
Thank you for taking the time to write so many engaging and encouraging comments on my videos.
God bless you,
- Eli Tennant

[@_.cera._1706]

Thank you so much, I'm making a dog bed for my art project and was utterly stressed. You've helped me so much

[@MakerBrain]

Stress over projects takes all of the fun out of it. I am so glad I was able to help you!
Good luck with your project!
- Eli

[@AlexBooster]

Every time I watch one of your videos I keep wondering who is your mentor. I mean, you must have an extremely successful TH-camr as a family member or a mentor. It's hard to believe that (especially given your age) you could put out such perfectly made videos where everything is made to perfection including the thumbnail.

[@AlexBooster]

Even the B-roll with a different color background. So much finesse is very rare

[@MakerBrain]

Awww, thank you for the high compliment, Alex! I don't have a mentor that I talk to one-on-one or in-person, but I closely follow a TH-cam-based company called "Think Media" that has a ton of free content about creating good TH-cam videos and online business. I have actually purchased their signature course called "Video Ranking Academy" and attended their conference (which was virtual due to covid). I haven't finished the course and still have a lot to learn, but I do my best with every video and try to get 1% better every day. It means a lot to me to hear that you noticed the quality of my videos which take a long time a lot of learning to make.
God bless you,
- Eli Tennant

[@romulobarriosromano4335]

Thanks for your TIPS and advice.....!

[@scootermom1791]

8:18 Paper is useful in covering up imperfections from cardboard. It's also useful to use in lieu of painting the cardboard and/or to provide a lighter background under paint. The latter also makes it so you don't have to apply as many coats of paint. Those are ways I've used paper with cardboard before.

[@MakerBrain]

Thanks for the comment, Scootermom.
Those are all nice ways to use paper on cardboard and I think that adding paper to give a white, uniform finish to the creation before painting is a neat hack if you don't have another good way for priming on the model for paint.
Have a great day,
- Eli Tennant

[@VonSolo5]

Genius! 🙌 Thank you.

[@MakerBrain]

I am glad it helped! making curves in cardboard can be a challenge!
have a blessed day,
- Eli Tennant

[@Angelacreatesart]

Great tutorials! Totally followed you

[@MakerBrain]

Thank you, Angela!
I am so glad that the video was easy to follow.
Happy crafting!
- Eli Tennant

[@samanthak.2706]

Awesome tutorial! This will be very helpful for one of my projects. Thank you!! c:

[@MakerBrain]

Wonderful! I am so glad to be a help you, Samantha!
God bless you,
- Eli Tennant

[@Mike-739]

I like using a regular box cutter for the first method too
You could also use the back of the blade
Edit: method 2

[@MakerBrain]

That is a good suggestion, Mike.
I think that a regular box cutter knife would work in pretty much the exact same way, but using the back of the knife could work really well to help prevent you from accidentally cutting all of the way through
God bless you,
- Eli Tennant

[@kagome1000o]

I rlly appreciate this video by the way

[@MakerBrain]

Thank You! I do my best to make the videos as helpful as possible.

[@hartmanartsource]

I use tissue paper to smooth rough edges. I also use paper for decorative purposes. Sometimes, crumple-rolling Kraft paper can create a bark-like texture for building miniature fairy houses and such. Lastly, I sometimes mix a cardboard armature with paper and/ or aluminum foil armatures, covered with either air-dry clay or papier mâché.

[@MakerBrain]

Wow, Theresa, you have quite a bit of experience with this! Those are all awesome crafting techniques and I might use the crumple-rolling paper on a future project.
Thank you so much for the comment!
God bless you,
- Eli

[@willculpepper9637]

05:31 Starting with a cardboard strip, moisten one side with a damp rag. It peels more easily.

[@MakerBrain]

Thans for the tip, Will. I will certainly try that or even make a video on it in the future!
Have a blessed day,
- Eli Tennant

[@palladiumcocktail436]

im your
485th sub

[@MakerBrain]

Thanks so much, Palladium Cocktail!
Just 15 more to get to 500!
I will see you in the next video.
- Eli Tennant

[@palladiumcocktail436]

@@MakerBrain no problem

[@Provan-ny4gz]

I use scrap paper from templates to stuff the inside of things for more stability

[@MakerBrain]

Oh yes, that sounds like a smart idea 💡. Thank you for sharing it, I might try it out on some future projects.
Have a blessed day,
- Eli

[@willculpepper9637]

05:00 If you buy eggs in the 30 ct cartons, the sleeve is one-sided corrugated cardboard.

[@MakerBrain]

Thank you for that insight, Will Culpepper. I have never had 30 ct egg cartons, but I have seen them and then you wouldn't have to deal with pealing off one side of the cardboard. I have also gotten one sided cardboard wrapping nice glass bottles and such.
Stay inspired,
- Eli Tennant

[@Gabethedoggo]

now I can make a plane >:)

[@MakerBrain]

Good luck with your plane!

[@rickynicky4443]

Damn, cuz that board wrinkly AF. Lemme hook you up with some tips. (Definitely did not steal this from a video just now)
Take a pen (preferably round on bottom like a ball point) and push into the cardboard on both sides (not all the way though) making it very bendable and easy to shape for a stadium.
You’re going to want to do this in thin(ish) strips and cut the end of one side so they all meet up in the middle for a nice circle.
I recommend glueing the sides to allow it to stick easier and be more stable. Once you got the shape done, it’s still gonna be mad bumpy, so you can go over the cracks with sandpaper (fine grit) and then over it with tape (thick like Duct Tape) to mask the remaining bumpiness and have a semi smooth surface to draw whatever you want on.
Hope this yap session helps my guy.

[@jsx0328]

Hey 😊 If I wanted to make my cardboard bend but still retain a solid shape for example I'm making a shield for cosplay or something, could I cut between the seams to bend and then use duct tape to make sure it doesn't move afterwards and I have the shape that I want? Or I'm curious how you would do it

[@MakerBrain]

Hi, jsx0328
I have never tried exactly what you're talking about so it could work well, but here's what I would do if I wanted to curve cardboard and keep it strong.
I would cut between the seams on two pieces of cardboard and curve one around and shield the way I want it to go. Then I would take the other piece and glue it to the inside of the first curve. Making it two layers thick will add strength but also make it keep its shape because the second layer was glued on after i made the curve.
Your duct tape method would be a lot quicker, but I fear that the duct tape would come off or be too flexible to really keep the cardboard rigid.
Good luck and happy crafting!
- Eli

[@kagome1000o]

Is it still sturdy with the first methods, and I also have a theory, what would happen if u dampen cardboard then bent it sort of molded it so it couldn’t move then let it dry in like the sun, would it still be sturdy or just fall apart?

[@MakerBrain]

Thanks for communicating, Kag 1995. That is an interesting idea you have about dampening the cardboard to bend it and I really want to try it out sometime. My biggest concern would be that you might still have to crush the corrugation of the cardboard quite a bit to get it to bend smoothly.
Stay inspired,
- Eli Tennant

[@GinaCogeasca]

If you will get wet one side of the cardboard, you'll remove that side easier

[@MakerBrain]

That is brilliant!

[@esmiebalboa1874]

I'm using this video to make a DreamSMP face mask like Dream.

[@MakerBrain]

I am glad to hear that it is helpful, Esmie! Face masks are not easy but I am sure you can do it. Good luck (if you aren't already done)
Have a blessed day,
- Eli Tennant

[@penetratingstain]

what is the strongest thing you've built out of cardboard?

[@MakerBrain]

Hmmm...
I think that the strangest thing that I have ever made out of cardboard was the spear-like point to a model gun. I used some thick cardboard that was folded and glued into a triangle and it had never bent on me (even when I ram it into stuff). Other than that I have made some pretty strong shelves and a large shield that I reinforced with wood.
Have a great day, Dillon!
- Eli Tennant

[@penetratingstain]

@@MakerBrain have you ever made any shelves or tables or chairs without wood reinforcement? If so, have you filmed the projects or taken pictures and could you link those in a comment? Bless up ☀️

[@penetratingstain]

@@MakerBrain you meant to type strongest .. yes?

[@MakerBrain]

Dillon, I haven't built much of that kind of thing but I would like to make some shelves soon. If I do I will be sure to make a video about them.

[@penetratingstain]

@@MakerBrain righteous

[@ThatOn3AnimeK1d]

Yes and no

[@MakerBrain]

😀

[@badad0166]

You sound thirty and you look twelve. If Radio were still a thing, you could work in it.

[@MakerBrain]

Thank you! I honestly think I would enjoy radio, or at least having a podcast.
Have a great day!
- Eli

[@Leonardo-ql1qu]

Not the way to do it!

[@Chancellor_candaza]

Then how do you do it you smart little piece of