Today's
Sponsors:


Mereen-Johnson Machine Company

Merritt Woodwork

MFG in Honduras

Micro Fence

Microvellum

Middle Valley Lumber

Mikron Woodworking Machinery

Mill Outlet

Minimax

Mirror Reflections

MLS Machinery USA, Inc.

MLS Machinery

Modern Woodworking Magazine

Moldingknives.com

Monarch Machinery

Morbidelli

Moulder Services

Moulder Techniques

Mountainside Wood Products

Multicam, Inc.

NAP Gladu

Nebraska Tool

NEMI

New England Kiln Drying Association

NexGen

Hoffmann Machine Company

Holz Her U.S. Inc.

Howard S. Twichell Co.

Hvalsoe Sawmill Ltd.

ICA North America

Icy Straits Lumber

IDM

Impact Search and Placement

Indiana Hardwoods

Industrial Air Solutions

Integra Precision Grinding and Manufacturing

InTrading

Invicta Woodworking Machines

IpeDepot.com

irsauctions.com

Italpresse

J & G Machinery

J and J Barn Wood

J&P Machines

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Jiffytops

JIT Hardware Supplies, Inc.

JMHsoftware.com

John G. Weber Co.

Joos USA Inc.

KCD Software

Kerber Farms and Mill

Keystone Wood Specialties

Keytrix Data Systems

Kiln-direct.com

Kleiberit Adhesives USA, Inc.

Kreg Tool Company

Kremlin

Lacy Cypress Inc.

Langelier Lumber Ltd.

Leadermac USA

Lewis Lumber Products

Lignomat

Logosol

Lumber Resources

Lumber Smith

M.L. Campbell

MACHINEKING.com

Macoser, Inc.

Mahros

Maine Timber Works

Maine Woods Company

Mann and Parker Lumber Co.

Martin Lumber

MARTIN Woodworking Machines Corp.

Mastercam - CNC Software

Matthews Mill

Maya Positioning Equipment




Gluing Up a Round Table Apron       Furniture-makers supply tips and techniques for a large circular lamination. October 2, 2005

Question
I am bidding on a conference table with continuous apron. I will lam it up with 1/8" x 3" x 60-80" walnut, but am at a bit of a loss about sequence of lay up. Main concern is that 8 or so plys laid up with that much length will leave too much slack as stack built up, making nasty gaps, bubbles, etc.

Will likely lam up two sections (there would have been at least two seams even if apron was lammed up as one) of about 190 degrees each and join with splines and a scab behind joint. Any comments most welcome.

Forum Responses
(Furniture Making Forum)
I made quite a few one piece, full circle laminated aprons for a small cigarette table design. These tables were about 20" diameter. I am sure I would never attempt anything like that with your size of table. I remember it being difficult to get the lengths of the laminates correct because it was difficult to calculate the thickness of the glue. But I finally got it worked out and glued them up. If you build your forms correctly and accurately and you have enough clamps, you won't get any bubbles or gaps. I am not sure what you mean by sequence in lay up, but I would use a glue with enough open time and glue up all the plys per section at once.



From the original questioner:
Thanks. I've done a lot of millwork - door and window arches - all with PVA glue, but will try something recommended for longer open times and thin applications. Great comments on the thicknesses, which I had not considered.


Unibond 800 is made for this type of work Long open time, will cure in a bag, and is brittle (no creep). The vacuum press/veneer fellow, Daryl Keil?, in Maine carries it, at about $17 per half gallon. Put the leftovers in the beer cooler, and the shelf life is excellent.


Any shape is possible with L-shaped ply brackets, I learned. We screwed them on the underside of the table temporarily to the inside line of the apron and then dry-assembled with an inside pine strip, a half inch pine kerfed strip and then the show wood. The inside and outside strips were joined on a 45 degree for some play. Spring clamps onto the brackets were used at glue-up and then a band cramp. Removed later, the apron was put round the planer and the brackets all removed from table underside. We used urea glue on slow! A beaded strip was added then to the bottom edge and run round the spindle.


If you're really worried, I'd just glue up the core first, let it cure, touch it up, then laminate the last layer. This way, you can get the joints tight where they show the most. Another trick is to allow for extra layers of material "cross cut plywood" on both sides to act as clamping culls. This will give you a smoother, less bumpy glue-up.


From the original questioner:
Thanks all - really great suggestions and comments. Client now is "thinking about" a leaf with a slider...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?


Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

  • KnowledgeBase: Furniture

  • KnowledgeBase: Furniture: Custom Furniture




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy || Site User Agreement

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2009 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB













  •   Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article