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Forum topic by snowdog | posted 08-19-2007 03:10 PM | 1337 views | 0 times favorited | 8 replies | ![]() |
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08-19-2007 03:10 PM |
Topic tags/keywords: bench maple All, Please give me your thoughts. -- "so much to learn and so little time".. |
8 replies so far
#1 posted 08-19-2007 03:35 PM |
How long is it now and how much of the ends are checked or split? Bob -- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner |
#2 posted 08-19-2007 04:18 PM |
I wouldn’t waste good maple on a danged old work bench. -- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon |
#3 posted 08-19-2007 04:27 PM |
While most of the prized workbenches are made of maple, Thos does have a point. You could use it to make a nice table instead, such as a sofa table. Since the wood is thick (4 inches?), I would wonder if it has dried long enough to stabilize it? I would hate to see you resaw it to make a wide top, and then have it warp or check on your some more. If you have a moisture meter, you can make a cut on the end and then check where it is at. If nothing else, you have some nice chopping block material there! -- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com |
#4 posted 08-19-2007 10:36 PM |
Maple huh?.............how about a maul to smack your fro with. I hate maple. -- Come on in, the beer is cold and the wood is dry. www.crookedlittletree.com |
#5 posted 08-20-2007 05:59 PM |
I also want to know how long the piece is… If it’s flatsawn, another idea is to resaw it in 6 equal pieces to get quartersawn stock (or close to qs)...then glue up for a top with less movement potential…still gets you your ~24” and you could probably get it to 1-3/4” thick overall. Have a picture of this piece? -- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA |
#6 posted 08-22-2007 03:49 PM |
I was away for a few days, but back now. The board is 7’ + long and 3×12. No checking and klin dried. I can get a few more slaps like this or maybe get a few 4×4s. I am not sure how to cut it for a bench top and would rather get it closer to correct on my first attempt :) I do not mind the cost of trial and error but I do not really want to waste the time it will take to learn by trial and error <laugh>. As I get older time is more valuable than the cash. (never having kids helps a lot in the $$ area <grin> It is just a thought but what if I put two 1” + strips of walnut in the top to give it some character? Is walnut hard enough for work bench top? Thank you all. Moisture meter is on my wish list :) -- "so much to learn and so little time".. |
#7 posted 08-22-2007 05:26 PM |
Thanks for the pics – it’s definitely flatsawn I see your quandary…so, what are you gonna do? huh, huh… If you can get more, and this stuff is stable and going into a stable climate, a massive 3” thick bench top would be pretty cool. The relatively thin strips of walnut would probably be fine in there… -- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA |
#8 posted 08-22-2007 05:55 PM |
I am not sure what to do with it as far as cutting it up. Should I cut it up into smaller parts and let it sit a few weeks and then mill it and glue it up or used it as large slabs. I am new to all this, I am pretty much a rough framer by trade :) not a fine wood worker (yet) :) But I am trying -- "so much to learn and so little time".. |
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