We are planning on converting an our 67 Safari into a sauna this summer. We would like to clad the ceiling and walls with cedar boards for a traditional sauna look. Straight boards can handle the basic curves up the walls and around the ceiling. But it's those tight compound curves in the corners as you go from the long wall to the end of the trailer that are really tricky.
We were thinking of kerfing and tapering boards to handle these curves. (
kerfing) This allows you to bend thick boards without having to steam or soak them. The kerfs also alleviate stress in the wood so the boards should not crack as much over time.
However the kerfs only leave about 1/8" of material where the cuts are. Does anyone know if it would it be a bad idea to have such thin areas of wood exposed to a sauna? Is anyone familiar with the effect kerfing would have on temperature and humidity tolerances long term?
If kerfing is not a good idea, we are looking for advice from anyone who has also achieved this effect in their airstream. We are looking for any suggestions on how to get cedar planks to follow these curves nicely without steaming. The main goal is to have a seamless transition from walls and ceilings to the trailer ends while using 4-6" wide cedar boards.
Here are some photos that show the overall effect we are trying to achieve:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7g2qrSHehBHXWvB99
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