Another Roubo workbench material question

[Cody Cantrell]

I am taking some white oak logs to my saw miller tomorrow and am going to have it sawn into Roubo material. I was thinking I will have it sawn into 4x6's. This will give me a 4 piece top and they would be easier to flatten on the jointer prior to glue up. Or should I have him mill two 4x12's for a 2 piece top? What do you guys think?

[Tim Cooper Louisiana]

What do you want the final thickness of your top to be?

[Jim Koepke]

You might have better control over the grain flow by cutting 4X6s. That would help to control future movement.

jtk

[Malcolm Schweizer]

4x6 quarter sawn- more likely to get good grain orientation, easier to handle, and should be easier to dry evenly. Even at 4x6 they will be very heavy to maneuver.

[Mike Cherry]

I don't know about the lumber, but I have a cat that has the exact same coat. Uncanny

[Jim Koepke]

I don't know about the lumber, but I have a cat that has the exact same coat. Uncanny

My shop cat also has a similar coat.

333363

There are a few other cats around here with similar markings.

One male looks so much like her is I have a hard time telling them apart. The male is a bit thiner than Ms. Turner.

jtk

[Allen Jordan]

Won't that take forever to dry? Do you have a kiln handy?

[Lenore Epstein]

Won't that take forever to dry? Do you have a kiln handy?
Cats generally dry pretty well on their own.

[Cody Cantrell]

So 4x6 is the way to go then? No kiln just time, if I lay them on the 6" side should cut 2 years off the dry time:D. Thats my shop cat Puss, she is a stray but she is also awesome, not a big cat fan but I do love that cat.

[Chris Hachet]

4x6 quarter sawn- more likely to get good grain orientation, easier to handle, and should be easier to dry evenly. Even at 4x6 they will be very heavy to maneuver.

Pretty much this.

[Pat Barry]

I would cut them 3x6 and then sort to get the most quarter sawn material I could get for the top. I think you could get a finished thickness of 2 3/4 or so and be very happy with that thickness, the reduced weight (during your build process and if you ever have to move it), and the ridgidity of the top will be awesome anyway with oak material, plus your holdfasts will work better to boot.

[William M Johnson]

Less chance for movement with more "plys".

Bill

[Robert Engel]

White oak can be a major PITA to plane so make sure the grain orientation is the same direction.

MY shop cat:

333382

Hey, what's going on?

[Jim Koepke]

Shop cat Turner also likes to claim a pile of shavings as her own.

I like her keeping the mouse population in check.


Hey, what's going on?

Yeah, anyone else notice they are all tabby cats? Are they planning to take over starting with woodworkers?

jtk

[Cody Cantrell]

So is there no benefit to a single piece top as in the original and Scott Landis's book?

[Jim Koepke]

So is there no benefit to a single piece top as in the original and Scott Landis's book?

It would save a lot of gluing time.

jtk

[Izzy Camire]

I have a sawmill and have done a decent amount of milling. From what I can tell on the size of the logs in the picture it will be hard for your miller to get quarter sawn 4x6 out of those. Once the logs are cut into 1/4 wedges/pies it will be tight to get those dimensions.