I've never used a planer or jointer and don't know anything about millwork so I'm trying to understand how to ask a sawmill to make a workbench top for me. Not sure what type of glue press they have, but they do make face glued butcher block or plank style tops.
I want to laminate two sections for a split top bench, that will be used in an unheated garage in Cleveland's humid summers and spring time condensation from cold nights and warm days. I'm thinking of asking them to rip 8/4 S2S lumber to 3.75" widths, that will be face glued to make the 2 sections. 8 boards will be glued to make a 14.5" wide section and 6 boards will make an 11" wide section. Finished length of sections to be 78".
Will the S2S surfacing on both sides be enough so these boards can be face glued without any further surfacing. After glue up, is planing the only final work required for final leveling of both sections.
What else should I ask them besides orienting all boards before gluing so grain is going in same direction to make any future leveling with a hand plane easier. And to use exterior grade glue.
Haven't yet decided on a hardwood or whether I need quartersawn lumber to make the top sections less likely to distort in unheated garage.