Carpentry and Woodworking - How to join wood?
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Roger5649
11-05-02, 10:42 AM
I would like to join three pieces of 4'x8', three-quarter inch plywood with oak veneer. I need them in a sort of "T" shape: two pieces end-to-end (4' side) and the third centered along the 16' side of the above.
What I'm trying to do is cut a large desktop out of these joined pieces. The finished desktop is about 12' wide, 25" deep with a "T" coming out in the middle about another 3'. This will form 2 work spaces with a curved cut where people will sit.
Dang, this is hard to describe. I have a drawing but can't upload it from work.
What I'm trying to do is cut a large desktop out of these joined pieces. The finished desktop is about 12' wide, 25" deep with a "T" coming out in the middle about another 3'. This will form 2 work spaces with a curved cut where people will sit.
Dang, this is hard to describe. I have a drawing but can't upload it from work.
Mike Swearingen
11-05-02, 11:58 AM
This would be one way.
Layout the 3 plywood sheets as you described, but top down.
Use 1X6 boards to overlap the seams evenly (full length of each seam), and screw the boards to the underside of the plywood along the seams without piercing the oak veneer to hold the sheets together.
You can then draw out the design of the large desktop and cut it out. Add more 1X6 pieces to tie it all together more stongly.
Then carefully turn it over (with plenty of help) to attach or sit it on legs or framing to make the double desk.
You could do the assembly and cutting on a group of sawhorses, or on a large floor space (block up the plywood to keep from damaging the floor while cutting).
Good luck!
Mike
Layout the 3 plywood sheets as you described, but top down.
Use 1X6 boards to overlap the seams evenly (full length of each seam), and screw the boards to the underside of the plywood along the seams without piercing the oak veneer to hold the sheets together.
You can then draw out the design of the large desktop and cut it out. Add more 1X6 pieces to tie it all together more stongly.
Then carefully turn it over (with plenty of help) to attach or sit it on legs or framing to make the double desk.
You could do the assembly and cutting on a group of sawhorses, or on a large floor space (block up the plywood to keep from damaging the floor while cutting).
Good luck!
Mike
Roger5649
11-05-02, 12:16 PM
Thanks, Mike! I hadn't thought of that. Could I also glue the pieces of 4x8 together and then sand them smooth after it's all together for a more "seamless" look?
Mike Swearingen
11-05-02, 05:45 PM
Yep. You could use glue (and football-shaped wood biscuits or dowels in the panels). If you use glue, it would be best to use pipe clamps to hold the sheets together until the glue sits up overnight.
You can just use a drill for the dowels, of course, but you need one of those little electric wood biscuit tools to make the slots for those on both sides of the seams. You might be able to rent or borrow one.
Gluing the 1X6s before screwing the boards down would be a good idea, too.
Wipe off the excess glue with a damp rag before it dries, especially any that gets on the oak veneer side.
Everything to add strength and stability.
But be very careful with the sanding. That oak veneer is probably pretty thin. You might want to put a couple of coats of poly on that side, also, sanding lightly between coats.
Good luck!
Mike
You can just use a drill for the dowels, of course, but you need one of those little electric wood biscuit tools to make the slots for those on both sides of the seams. You might be able to rent or borrow one.
Gluing the 1X6s before screwing the boards down would be a good idea, too.
Wipe off the excess glue with a damp rag before it dries, especially any that gets on the oak veneer side.
Everything to add strength and stability.
But be very careful with the sanding. That oak veneer is probably pretty thin. You might want to put a couple of coats of poly on that side, also, sanding lightly between coats.
Good luck!
Mike