Jake Elkins
01-01-2013, 9:16 PM
About 5 years ago, I picked up some cheap white oak and locus old barn beams. I salvaged a lot from these, and the leftovers (about 12 sticks) have been taking up lots of space in the shop. Most are 4"x4", some closer to 6"x4". While each is about 8' long, they will not yield long lumber when jointed/planed due to voids, defects, etc. While I have no idea what to do with these, I originally bought them thinking about a workbench. I already have a good bench I finished last year, but I figure these things are kinda like clamps (can never have too many . . .?).
Anyways, I have thought about making a bench with these, but by gluing up not 6 eight-foot boards (to make a 2'x8' bench), but by gluing up 24 two-foot sections (also yielding an 8'x2' top). I have never seen this done, and I figure it might be challenging to square up the bench (with 16 total feet of end grain to deal with), but my question is, could/should this be done? The only real drawback I can see is the requirement for multiple 9 foot clamps, of which I can make a few with pipe clamps. Surely, strength will not be an issue with a 3.5" thick top. As an advantage, it would make adding a shoulder vise (I think that what they are called -- basically an "L"-shaped appendage at the left end of the bench) much, much easier. I could always add a skirt to the rear, if I think it might be a little weak in the center. Or "breadboard" the "front" and "back" using tongue/groove and lag bolts.
I'm not sold on doing this, but I figured that it is not done for a reason. So I ask the woodsmiths, what am I missing?
Or an alternative question: What to do with 12 far-less-than-perfect oak beams? There's gotta be something better than firewood.
Anyways, I have thought about making a bench with these, but by gluing up not 6 eight-foot boards (to make a 2'x8' bench), but by gluing up 24 two-foot sections (also yielding an 8'x2' top). I have never seen this done, and I figure it might be challenging to square up the bench (with 16 total feet of end grain to deal with), but my question is, could/should this be done? The only real drawback I can see is the requirement for multiple 9 foot clamps, of which I can make a few with pipe clamps. Surely, strength will not be an issue with a 3.5" thick top. As an advantage, it would make adding a shoulder vise (I think that what they are called -- basically an "L"-shaped appendage at the left end of the bench) much, much easier. I could always add a skirt to the rear, if I think it might be a little weak in the center. Or "breadboard" the "front" and "back" using tongue/groove and lag bolts.
I'm not sold on doing this, but I figured that it is not done for a reason. So I ask the woodsmiths, what am I missing?
Or an alternative question: What to do with 12 far-less-than-perfect oak beams? There's gotta be something better than firewood.