Bending and Setting the Round-Fan Ribs: How Bamboo Curves into a Graceful Arc

The elegant arc of round-fan ribs comes from bending and setting. Bamboo and wood are heated until softened, bent into shape, then set and tempered to hold a stable arc without springing back — a key step in frame making.

The Scenario: Three challenges in bending and setting

Round-fan rib bending and setting has three challenges:

Pain Points

• Uneven heating cracks or scorches bamboo and wood, hurting strength and looks;
• The bent arc is hard to keep even, leaving the fan shape skewed;
• Incomplete setting lets the arc spring back and deform over time.

The Solution: Three bending-setting points

Round-fan rib bending and setting has three points:

1. Controlled softening Heat evenly by fire or steam to the softening point, avoiding localized scorching and cracking.

2. Mold-based bending Bend against a standard-radius mold, correcting section by section for an even, round shape.

3. Tempering and aging Temper after bending to release stress, then age naturally to stabilize the arc against spring-back.

The Result: Round shape, stable arc

With bending and setting done right, the ribs have an even arc and round shape that hold through long use, making the finished fan more elegant.