Shopsmith Forums

I tried the search function and looked in ptwfe but have not been able to find simple for the simple minded instructions on gluing up boards for turning.

I have several smaller scraps I would like to turn into blocks for turning some simple projects for the grand kids. tops etc. but how is it done? How smooth should the faces be. Should I rough them up with 150 sand paper, 60 sand paper, leave them like they are (about 180)? Do I just use yellow glue? Do I need to use something like gorilla glue?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

I've had very good luck using yellow glue with red oak.

In wood preparation, you want to have the mating faces to be fresh smooth surfaces. After jointing or planing, it is good to sand a little using 150 or less. Don't sand so much so as to make the joining surfaces irregular.

Use a glue roller and plenty of glue, also use plenty of clamp pressure and let dry thoroughly. You can scrape or chop off glue squeezout with a putty knife later. Pretty doesn't count here, as the outside edges will become chips during turning, away.

charlese wrote:I've had very good luck using yellow glue with red oak.

In wood preparation, you want to have the mating faces to be fresh smooth surfaces. After jointing or planing, it is good to sand a little using 150 or less. Don't sand so much so as to make the joining surfaces irregular.

Use a glue roller and plenty of glue, also use plenty of clamp pressure and let dry thoroughly. You can scrape or chop off glue squeezout with a putty knife later. Pretty doesn't count here, as the outside edges will become chips during turning, away.

Fresh smooth surface means freshly sanded surface. If one prepars the surface and sets it aside for a day or two it is always a good idead to sand the surface again immediatly prior to gluing.

Mike,
The points made by Chuck are right on the money. I always wait 24 hours or longer before I turn the wood. Also, depending on shape of the wood, and if you have a bandsaw, use it to cut off the sharp corners, saving yourself a lot of time in turning your project.

I use a lot of my scrap wood by gluing pieces to together, and setting them aside for future projects, especially for tool handles.

Use your imagination, and take things to the next step by gluing different species of wood together. One can end up with some very striking and interesting wood patterns.

Good Luck!
FlashbacPT
John

mikelst wrote:I tried the search function and looked in ptwfe but have not been able to find simple for the simple minded instructions on gluing up boards for turning.

I have several smaller scraps I would like to turn into blocks for turning some simple projects for the grand kids. tops etc. but how is it done? How smooth should the faces be. Should I rough them up with 150 sand paper, 60 sand paper, leave them like they are (about 180)? Do I just use yellow glue? Do I need to use something like gorilla glue?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

Just need to add a little more to my post above.

1) I have also used yellow glue to make up turning stock out of walnut and poplar.

2) Don't fool yourself into thinking that Gorilla glue will work better than yellow or white or brown (animal) glue. All of these glues when bonded into wood faces will become stronger the the wood itself!!! You just can't make a joint that is stronger than the wood. Gorilla glue advertises moisture resistance. It holding capacity is no stronger than others. In fact may be weaker in some applications.

Thanks everybody for your help.
I have, using this input, glued up some scraps of walnut, padauk and poplar and will see how this works for me.

Again
Thanks
Mike

I've always planed the surfaces, and then some 120 grit sandpaper, yellow wood glue, and plenty of clamps and drying time.

One technique that I used on a recent project was to cross cut a long board every 8 inches, and then assemble the pieces like an accordian - like this:

________________________________

becomes

\ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /

becomes

llllllllllll


So that the grain pattern kind of zigzagged through the finished piece. Made for an interesting effect.