Need help on bending wood trim, or suggestions on how to achieve this look

[Scott Brandstetter]

I'm thinking about making a twin bed for my friend's two year old and she gave me a picture of what she would like. Essentially the headboard and footboard have a curved top with a "cap" of wood trim over the curve. I'm not sure exactly how best to get this curved "cap". I realize I could by flexible trim but would like to know how to achieve it with real wood. The picture below shows what I am questioning.

Any help would be appreciated.
302813

[Mel Fulks]

For that application I would band saw out two pieces, make neat butt joint in center . Less short end grain than making it
in one piece. It could be laminated or steamed,but I don't see any advantage over just sawing and sanding

[Chris Padilla]

I think I would bandsaw thin strips of wood and glue them up in an MDF form with a hard-drying glue like Urea or a plastic resin glue.

[Scott Brandstetter]

I'm the original poster, so, let me ask this question another way. If I wanted to create this curve in a production method, meaning I had to build 10 of these at a time, how would I do this the most productive, least expensive way. I realize that sometimes the two don't always match up.

[Brian Henderson]

It certainly can be done with an MDF form and a steam box, but like Mel said, I can't see any good reason to do it, especially since, from the picture, it's going to be painted anyhow. Just cut it out, glue it up and sand it smooth.

[Mike Cutler]

I'd bend it myself. But I see Mel's point too.

If you have to make 10 at a time, you just need to pick your method. If you steam bend them you would need 10 forms. Same with cold forming. If you do Mel's method you need to make a nice sandwich template and free hand the form through a router, or shaper table.

[Perry Holbrook]

Back in the days I managed a large furniture factory, those caps were made on a "profile shaper". Glue up the blank, rough cut on band saw, mount on the profile shaper. This machine had a large shaper head that could follow a template.
Today, I would think it is done on a CNC.

Perry