Bruce Kassler
02-03-2014, 4:18 PM
Hi,
I am building an outdoor roof structure that requires two each 20' long beams that are 3.5" wide x 12" tall with a 20' horizontal radius (an arch on its side with the 3.5" on top and the 12" on the side). I would like to make it out of douglas fir. I was thinking about steam bending 2"x4" layers with the 3.5" side facing up and using marine glue to stack eight of them up to the 12" tall beam. Will the douglas fir work? If so, how long do I need to leave them in my steam tube? If not, any other ideas what would be best for this application? I thought of using my bandsaw and ripping and planing 1"x12" boards down to 3/8" thick and then bending and gluing 10 of those together. What do you guys think?
Bruce Kassler
I am building an outdoor roof structure that requires two each 20' long beams that are 3.5" wide x 12" tall with a 20' horizontal radius (an arch on its side with the 3.5" on top and the 12" on the side). I would like to make it out of douglas fir. I was thinking about steam bending 2"x4" layers with the 3.5" side facing up and using marine glue to stack eight of them up to the 12" tall beam. Will the douglas fir work? If so, how long do I need to leave them in my steam tube? If not, any other ideas what would be best for this application? I thought of using my bandsaw and ripping and planing 1"x12" boards down to 3/8" thick and then bending and gluing 10 of those together. What do you guys think?
Bruce Kassler