I might have asked a question in the wrong department (today is my first try at this)
I’m gluing up two pcs of “Ash” on the flat ( 2″square) to make posts for a Shaker rocker. I glued up 5 pcs. before when I made a ball for the top of a stair post and nearly lost my head when it broke apart doing a million mph. it hit me but I got away.
Is glue up for blanks to be turned common or should I wait and get a solid pc.
Thanks,
TimBVB
Replies
Tim,
Welcome to the forum.
If done properly, a glued joint should be stronger than the wood itself. When I glue up boards and cut it to length, I like to take the offcut and break it to check the quality of my glue-up. Almost always, the wood fractures adjacent to the glue line.
It is perfectly acceptable to glue up wood for turning, unless you can't get an acceptable colour or grain match. Do a search for "segmented turning".
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
and now www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Hello Tim. I, too, am new to this. Is it necessary to consider that normally a "post" would have the grain running the long direction, while gluing up squares of wood might have the grain running sidewise? I'm confident a turner could visually duplicate a post in the manner you have proposed, especially if it were painted, but would it be structurally a good idea? Perhaps a more common lamination technique would be to glue 1" material lengthwise.
Tim,
About 6 years ago I glued up two pieces of ash to turn legs for a coffee table. Several months later, in the dead of winter, the seams started to show. I think I was told I should have used more pieces in the glue up to avoid the seams issue. Being a devout coward, I just use solids from then on...welcome to knots
hey tim,
glued up stock is just fine for most turnings. don't use white glue, as it tends to "slip"if and when it heats up. throughout one's ww life, grain direction and it's relative importantce to what we wish to do, will always be an important consideration, whether we carve, turn or build.
welcome, there is a wealth of good help at this site.
eef
Edited 6/3/2009 2:27 pm ET by Eef
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