Replies

1. 
   wbfinewoodworking | Jan 24, 2007 06:31pm | #1

   I saw a post on another forum (yes, there are others) showing two of the Ikea tops laminated together for a bench top. It looked like an excellent idea to me. The poster reported that the project worked out very well.

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jan 24, 2007 07:05pm | #2

   I've put two of the oak ones in kitchens.  They're a good value for the money, and would make good bench tops.   The finish is rather minimal, so you might want to add some more of your own.   Ikea doesn't specify what kind of oak it is, but the ones I bought were white oak.

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Jan 24, 2007 07:38pm | #3

   You don't want to glue the butcher block to a composition material substrate like MDF. The butcher block will expand and contract with seasonal changes in relative humidity while the composition material substrate will not. This will cause the top to warp and/or be destroyed by the stress.

   Howie.........
1. 
   Lyptus | Jan 24, 2007 08:44pm | #4

   What about laminating two butcher block tables together to achieve a thicker bench top? I did read the post cited earlier on a workbench forum where someone did this. Won’t that potentially cause conflicting stresses as well? Is there any suitable material to use to laminate to a butcher block? - Lyptus

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jan 25, 2007 06:50pm | #5

   Yes, laminating two butcher blocks together will not cause expansion/contraction problems. However joining them together could be a challange. If you want the strongest joint, you have two choices. One is to attempt to laminate them with a PVA (yellow) adhesive. To get the best bond, PVA adhesive requires about 200 psi of pressure. If the butcher block were 20x40 this means that you need to have some way to get 160,000 lbs of force or 80 tons. Not practical in a home shop.The second choice is to use a slow set, two part epoxy. You need very little pressure for an epoxy bond and this would be the way to go.You must be sure that the block pattern is identical and that they pattern match up between the two layers.Howie.........

4. 
   RickL | Jan 26, 2007 08:46pm | #6

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=XJ4XoYqngKA

    

   http://youtube.com/results?search_query=ikea&search=Search

   Haven't seen any Ikea furniture but their commercials are great.

1. 
   ChuckN | Jan 26, 2007 11:24pm | #7

   I'm pretty sure that it is some kind of violation, if not of the rules of irony then certainly the rules of the forum, to mention the name of that disposable furnture seller on such a fine forum as this.

    

    

   ChuckN and I really have nothing of value to add to this dicussion.

    

    

   I spent a fortune on deodorant until I finally realized that people didn't like me anyway.

   Edited 1/26/2007 6:45 pm ET by ChuckN

1. 
   RickL | Jan 26, 2007 11:32pm | #8

   "displosable"  ????

   The commercials more than make up for the quality.

2. 
   jackplane | Jan 26, 2007 11:32pm | #9

   You mean, IKEA ?

   Where dreams are made? Expert since 10 am.

3. 
   flipstuff | Feb 03, 2007 03:35pm | #10

   i know i'm hopping in here a few days late, but i just had to share a comic's routine i heard about ikea. she said:"yeah, ikea's total crap. nowadays if i buy ikea i just go directly from the store to the local dump -- that way i skip that whole middle step of having it in my house."

2. 
   hammer1 | Feb 03, 2007 07:00pm | #11

   We live in a small town, not much going on for entertainment. During the summers we go up to the boat launch on Saturday mornings and watch the vacationers trying to get their crafts on or off the trailer. In the winter, we used to go to Home Depot and watch folks tie down building materials to the roof of their Corollas. Now we make the trip to Ikea, it's a lot funnier to see a big couch or armoire tied on with twine. I like it when they tie it to the door handles and then can't get in. The Interstate is right out front. You can pick up all your firewood for the season within a quarter mile of the store.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

3. 
   gmoney | Feb 03, 2007 09:11pm | #12

   that commercial is hilarious! that's something i would send out in email to friends. i'm still laughing.