Replies

1. 
   dchyatt | Apr 05, 2006 06:16am | #1

   Does the piece need to be solid? Perhaps you can just take four cherry boards of the appropriate size and miter the long edges.

1. 
   JMadson | Apr 05, 2006 06:34am | #2

   I actually need to make a half cherry column. From the drawing attached - the gray will be cherry and I would like to use a different wood for the striped area. It won't be seen so no reason to spend the money on real cherry.

   Other construction ideas will be welcomed too. I may be in the process of reinventing the wheel.

   Joe

   
1. 
   dchyatt | Apr 05, 2006 06:43am | #3

   I think I would still make the column hollow and inset a piece of 3/4" plywood across the back of the column. Would that work?

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 05, 2006 04:56pm | #4

   I strongly agree about making the column hollow, perhaps with a few ply braces top bottom and middle.  Building around any solid core, even cherry, is qoing to have a cross grain joint that will pull the miters apart some year.  If you spline, or biscuit, the miters the column will be quite strong. 

3. 
   JohnWW | Apr 05, 2006 05:43pm | #5

   Unless this has a massive amount of weight on it, or needs to be solid for some other obscure reason, build it hollow.  No matter how you built this, if it is completely filled with wood you will have wood movement problems that will eventually crack the joints or the faces of the boards.

   John white, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

4. 
   joinerswork | Apr 06, 2006 05:33pm | #6

   J

   Are you planning on turning the column?  I'm looking at the semicircle on your sketch. If so, you don't need 5"x 4".  A half  of a 4" dia column is only going to be 2" thick. I'd try to find a piece of "plump" 8/4 stock if possible. If that is not possible, rather than gluing three 6' long, 1" thick pieces and trying to get/keep the miters aligned, I'd use two pieces of 5/4 cherry, and glue them face to face.  The lamination will still show two glue lines, but will be easier to make, and likelier to be a good match, esp if both lams are from the same board, and you match the growth rings to one another.  Then glue to x-wood (with paper between) to make up  the remainder of the turning square.  Split apart after turning. 

   Regards,

   Ray Pine