Yesterday I ripped the Beech lumber into slats. Today starts the real work on the bench, getting the slab wood ready for glue up. other than the completed slab and base, these are the heaviest hunks of wood to be worked. It's almost a toss up between doing the prep by hand or machine. I'll start using the machines but may end up finishing mostly by hand.
Here are the rough cut beech slats. Each is approximately 45mmX100mmX2150mm. Two of the slats will be dressed on only one edge and one face. The rest will be dressed on one edge and both faces.
I'll glue up in two's so I'm only dealing with one glue surface at a time. It takes longer that way but I think is easier and less backbreaking until you start dealing with putting the glue ups together.
Once everything is done I'll be shooting for a finished >75mmX~400mmX2100mm slab. That's in the range of 3"X16"X7' for the metric challenged. BTW, each slat weights ~17 lbs., the finished slab will be close to 170 lbs. My best guess the finished bench will be over 300 lbs and maybe close to 400 lbs.
It should be heavy enough to stay put but at the same time break down into manageable parts for moving when needed. That is the major problem with the French/English main bench, without the neighborhood or a fork lift that sucker is immoveable.
I talked to the woodstore manager yesterday, I made a return trip because of a BF the day before and I was short one board of Beech, he said the order for my 12/4 Ash was made too late to be in yesterday's shipment. That was the reason it wasn't there but he would see if they could get a special delivery next week. We will see, I really don't want to drive to Phoenix and back.
Anyone want to learn how to make a Moravian bench? Have I got a deal for you :-).
ken
Hi Ken
ReplyDeleteI think it is a very wise decision to glue up the pieces one at a time.
The first Barnsley table I made - I did it all in one big step, and it was a more Laurel and Hardy than Roy Underhill!
The individual pieces shifted around and I ended up with a much more uneven surface than I had envisioned.
The nest table was made one piece at a time, and it wasn't that much slower, but the result on the other hand was a whole lot better.
I looked at the watch when I had glued on a plank, and gave it at least 1 hour of clamping time before putting on the next one. It was also much easier to wipe of the excess glue using that method.
Looking forward to seeing a picture of the new grandpeanut on the workbench :-)
Brgds
Jonas
Thanks Jonas,
ReplyDeleteI've done it both ways, either work but one at a time is usually less monkey motion and can give better results. I'm starting with about 25mm extra to play with over what I want as a minimum thickness so either would work but my back will think me.
MsBubba showed me a couple photos of the new peanut. I know all GP's think theirs are beautiful but this time she is a pretty baby with a full head of dark hair. Mom is very pretty so there is a good chance of her growing up spoiled.
ken
Congrats all around on the new Grand peanuts.
ReplyDeleteYou know, Ken with all these benches you are building p, you are going to run out of room for more chisels... ððĪðĪŠð
Bob,
ReplyDeleteSee the next post :-).
ken