During commercials in the Giants/Braves game, I switched over to watch Norm build an Adirondack “loveseat” (his word) out of cypress. For fastening various parts, he used not only screws (and occasionally bolts), but also “marine adhesive.” He even used this adhesive where the back slats met the frame and back supports.
Is this not overkill? He makes a point of the fact that once this adhesive has dried, there’s no getting the parts apart. Why would we want to use this stuff?
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
Jamie,
Norm does not base his judgement on sound or advisable methods. Rather on the fact that an advertiser has paid him to promote the product.
Rich
Well, I'm not sure that was the case in tonight's program. He gave no brand name or specifics. He simply called it "marine adhesive". Not much advertising in that phrase.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hmmm. I guess he has a contract to outfit the deck of a cruise ship with Adirondak chairs.
Rich
I would say, because he's on TV people have this idea that everything he builds is top quality (whether it is or not is not my statement). If someone builds this and uses this "marine adhesive" then the thing will never come apart even in a hurricane. However, if he didn't use the adhesive then someone could build it that way and it may fall apart under drastic measures. I would tend to agree that it is overkill (I've never built anything to withstand a hurricane), but he is probably trying to uphold reputation among his "followers".
Adam
I'm guessing but could it be that he was intending on leaving this piece outside all year long and wanted to try to keep the boards from cracking as they transited through the various weather conditions. I know that doesn't follow the conventional thinking of letting the boards expand and contract to prevent cracking and splitting but it might work in this situation. By the fact that he used marine adhesive I get the impression that he expected things to get very wet.
It does make the chair difficult to repair should it need it. I think my choice would be screws/bolts only.
Metal fasteners create a break into the wood allowing water in and rot to gain a foothold.
FG,
Probable a lot of overkill which may have bad consequences. Regardless of the finish used, the wood is going to pick up a lot of moisture and that means a lot of movement. I'll bet that after a couple years in the elements he'll get a lot of splitting in the wood because his joints are too tight.
BTW, I'm no Norm basher, but I hate him. He doesn't deserve that shop - I do!
Jeff
This is just a thought, but I assume norm instructs to the lowest common denominator with a CYA attitude. Between the fasteners and the glue, the ground should be safe from everyones backside!
Don
Gee, whats the big deal...he showed the "older" chair her built years ago similar design except for one person only and pointed out where the screws where loosening and some rusting after about 10yrs in the weather, so he is trying to inprove it by adding some Marine adhesive? Sound like It might work to me,,, they do use that on Boats which see a lot more water than that chair will ever see..makinsawdust
Hi Ed. I didn't see that part (was just visiting between pitches at the playoff game) so I didn't have a clue. I'd still be concerned about locking the pieces in with such indestructible adhesive. Thanks for filling me in though!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Forest Girl,
Why were you watching baseball anyway? It's football season! (I'm still flying high after watching the Pack beat duh Bears.)
Jeff
Shoot, I'd rather be watching Norm instead of our beleagured Rams. I prefer hockey anyway and it's starting tonight.
Michael
No hockey until the ice is at least 8" thick. That was my mother's rule, so there's no arguing or discussion allowed.
Jeff
Jeff,
I just happened to be working in Chicago Monday. It was a construction site downtown, The Grand Plaza. I couldn't believe all the "BEAR" talk. It was everywhere. According to what I heard, Green Bay had better watch out, they are going to get their butts kicked! ;^)
Don
Don,
Sorry guy, the game was Monday, and the Bears got clobbered. I thought you went to school at Michigan Tech. Didn't they make you a Packers fan while you were there? (Those up in this neck of the woods know that since Green Bay has a population of just over 100,000, anytime they play it's a case of David versus Goliath, which is biblical, which means God is on our side....)
Jeff
Jeff,
Yep, the game was Monday! Listened to it on the radio coming home. Staticey, fade in and out, am radio. Why does that even exist anymore???? I imagine there are many in Chicago stuck in Monday though.
Nope, still a Lions fan, but god, I don't know why??????? Genetics I guess. The town of Calumet would go nuts twice a year during football season, the lions and the packers. The only thing more important was the Red Wings.
Don
Hey Don,
RedWings, great team and it's the name chanted in the stands during Lions games. "Let's go RedWings" as the Lions loose another.
Lar
Football? What's that?? Well, no, I'm not quite that bad, but let it suffice to be said, I'm a sad, sad person from late October through March, until the pitchers and catchers report to Arizona!!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Arizona as in Diamondbacks?...My home team sure dive out quickly this YR
(course they still won theyre division)makinsawdust
Sorry about my team, the Cardinals, beating your Diamondbacks. :)
Wellll, you're forgiven . . . this time.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thanks. :)
Michael
I am rooting for ST Louis, to beat the Giants, I guess they had a little scuffle last night? makinsawdust
Yeah. What a whiner Lofton is. The ball wasn't anywhere near him. I wish someone would have taken a poke at Bonds. He's a punk.
Hopefully the Cards will get back on track tonight.
Michael
Forestgirl, in my case I wait til the pitchers and catchers report to Florida. And ya gotta love baseball to be a Red Sox fan...The IMPORTANT thing is, the !@#$%^ Yankees are out of it for this year...
I believe Norm tailors his show to the home woodworking enthusiast/handyperson. Us genius professionals may know a few more tricks, but put that Adirondack chair together with marine adhesive, it never comes apart, and Hubby looks like a hero to the little woman. And if it breaks in a few years he can say "at least my glue joints didn't fail"...
I didn't see the episode but imagine the slats and pieces he used the adhesive on can't be much wider than 3" or so. That's not wide enough to cause much concern with expansion and contraction. What's it gonna move, 1/32"? I highly doubt the boards will split as they'll never build up enough hydraulic pressure.
Regards,
John
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