Joe Craven
02-16-2017, 1:27 AM
Hey everyone,
Long time, no post (or real participation)...sorry about that.
I have an idea for an entry table that the wife has requested. She hasn't requested the sandwich'ing that I referring to, but it's something that I want to try. I plan to make two of these: one for us, the other as an auction item for a charity organization that has an upcoming gala event. I think I can convey this question without providing a diagram.
The concept is a circular table which is something like 28" wide (diameter of top) by 28" tall, with probably a shelf somewhere near the middle. The challenge that I have created for myself is to sandwich some lighter wood between darker wood, almost like an Oreo if you looked at it from the side. I have plans to integrate this same theme into the legs, so that the outer and inner woods kind of meld. That's not where I'm needing help, though.
Let's call these "layers" like outside Oreo cookie Layers (1 and 3) being walnut, and the inside cream Layer 2 being yellowheart.
My question is this: if you were just making a circular top of a table where you want to do this sandwich thing, what's the best way to glue disparate species of hardwood? My thoughts focus on three different methods...
Method 1: edge-glue panels of the same woods at [whatever appropriate thickness], then face-glue those full-width panels together to make the sandwich. Followed by cutting the circle shape on the bandsaw (or router jig, or whatever). I like this one the least because it requires consistent flattening of each "layer" of the sandwich before gluing up the whole thing. And then making sure you've got consistent pressure on the glue-up, across a wide surface.
Method 2: similarly, face-glue the disparate woods plank-by-plank, then joint (S2S) the edges, and edge-glue the planks together, very carefully. The problem with this approach - which is shared by the last - seems to me that the appearance of the end-grain (esp. for the lighter, middle layer of the sandwich) will look so different than the side grain, that the piece wouldn't look presentable unless you're able to place it in an acutely-shaped corner...something that doesn't exist in most homes. And, for either of these two methods, do I need to be conscious of grain direction or anything else?
Method 3: this is where I need experienced advice, I think; glue up the outside panels (Layers 1 & 3), and sandwich them around MDF as Layer 2...the cream. Cut the MDF layer maybe 1/4" less diameter, and then just band (edge-trim, in a circle) the lighter wood that's been planed to a thickness that will bend on that radius. This solution only suffers from the line where the band joins its ends, and I suspect that having MDF in the middle of the sandwich might add long-term stability. I just don't have enough experience with mixing MDF with "real" wood to know if this is a good idea.
I'd be really interested in any response, even if just academic.
Thanks,
Joe
Long time, no post (or real participation)...sorry about that.
I have an idea for an entry table that the wife has requested. She hasn't requested the sandwich'ing that I referring to, but it's something that I want to try. I plan to make two of these: one for us, the other as an auction item for a charity organization that has an upcoming gala event. I think I can convey this question without providing a diagram.
The concept is a circular table which is something like 28" wide (diameter of top) by 28" tall, with probably a shelf somewhere near the middle. The challenge that I have created for myself is to sandwich some lighter wood between darker wood, almost like an Oreo if you looked at it from the side. I have plans to integrate this same theme into the legs, so that the outer and inner woods kind of meld. That's not where I'm needing help, though.
Let's call these "layers" like outside Oreo cookie Layers (1 and 3) being walnut, and the inside cream Layer 2 being yellowheart.
My question is this: if you were just making a circular top of a table where you want to do this sandwich thing, what's the best way to glue disparate species of hardwood? My thoughts focus on three different methods...
Method 1: edge-glue panels of the same woods at [whatever appropriate thickness], then face-glue those full-width panels together to make the sandwich. Followed by cutting the circle shape on the bandsaw (or router jig, or whatever). I like this one the least because it requires consistent flattening of each "layer" of the sandwich before gluing up the whole thing. And then making sure you've got consistent pressure on the glue-up, across a wide surface.
Method 2: similarly, face-glue the disparate woods plank-by-plank, then joint (S2S) the edges, and edge-glue the planks together, very carefully. The problem with this approach - which is shared by the last - seems to me that the appearance of the end-grain (esp. for the lighter, middle layer of the sandwich) will look so different than the side grain, that the piece wouldn't look presentable unless you're able to place it in an acutely-shaped corner...something that doesn't exist in most homes. And, for either of these two methods, do I need to be conscious of grain direction or anything else?
Method 3: this is where I need experienced advice, I think; glue up the outside panels (Layers 1 & 3), and sandwich them around MDF as Layer 2...the cream. Cut the MDF layer maybe 1/4" less diameter, and then just band (edge-trim, in a circle) the lighter wood that's been planed to a thickness that will bend on that radius. This solution only suffers from the line where the band joins its ends, and I suspect that having MDF in the middle of the sandwich might add long-term stability. I just don't have enough experience with mixing MDF with "real" wood to know if this is a good idea.
I'd be really interested in any response, even if just academic.
Thanks,
Joe