Dev Emch
05-02-2005, 6:42 AM
Here is a good problem for everyone to chew on.
I am currently working out various options for building a new "show" bench. This is a work bench that will see some video time so its got to be keen.
The problem conendrum is with the timbers. One option for this bench which I dont think has ever been done before is to use the stickley Quadralinear post construction to build the heavy timbers. In this construction method, Q-SAW white oak is cut into four sections to form a major timber and then run through the shaper using a 45 degree lock mitre cutter. These are then glued together and the only joints visable are in the four corners. This method was first pioneered by Leopold Stickley using his own profile. Gustov actually used veneer to achieve this effect earlier. It allows one to place the fleck on all four sides instead of just two.
The problem is that the bench trestle base has a traditional thumb nail profile on the end. The four mitred end sections will then become visable through the end grain of the thumb nail and will be rather unpleasant.
One option I considered is to just use a section of thin veneer and just build up the outer layer of the thumb nail and give it a fleck pattern thus hiding the gross looking glue joints. But this is gluing long grain to semi long grain and end grain. Thus you have a weak joint on thin stock in a high traffic area with boots, tools, shop vacs, etc. which may delaminate the veneer and or chip it.
Anybody have any other ideas to resolve this? As I said, this is one idea that is currently being knocked about.
I am currently working out various options for building a new "show" bench. This is a work bench that will see some video time so its got to be keen.
The problem conendrum is with the timbers. One option for this bench which I dont think has ever been done before is to use the stickley Quadralinear post construction to build the heavy timbers. In this construction method, Q-SAW white oak is cut into four sections to form a major timber and then run through the shaper using a 45 degree lock mitre cutter. These are then glued together and the only joints visable are in the four corners. This method was first pioneered by Leopold Stickley using his own profile. Gustov actually used veneer to achieve this effect earlier. It allows one to place the fleck on all four sides instead of just two.
The problem is that the bench trestle base has a traditional thumb nail profile on the end. The four mitred end sections will then become visable through the end grain of the thumb nail and will be rather unpleasant.
One option I considered is to just use a section of thin veneer and just build up the outer layer of the thumb nail and give it a fleck pattern thus hiding the gross looking glue joints. But this is gluing long grain to semi long grain and end grain. Thus you have a weak joint on thin stock in a high traffic area with boots, tools, shop vacs, etc. which may delaminate the veneer and or chip it.
Anybody have any other ideas to resolve this? As I said, this is one idea that is currently being knocked about.