Comments on: 'Gluebo' Questions Answered (Some of Them, Anyway)

By: Paul Kierstead

Paul Kierstead — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:12:24 +0000

Unfortunately, I *think* that means the top costs $220, since they won’t take back part of a beam (and you can’t buy part), unless of course you can get a few people to go in on it with you.

By: Megan

Megan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:34:54 +0000

Kevin,
There are a couple possibilities here: First, it’s possible the price changed a bit (I no longer had the receipt by the time I wrote this post, so I called the supplier to get a price on a 2x12x24 piece of LVL). Second (and this is the more likely scenario), it’s possible my math was incorrect thus misleading readers on the cost of the top. You’re right – it takes one 2x12x24 plus 2 more strips to make the top. So if the cost of the LVL remains constant at $110 for a 2x12x24, the top would cost $139, not $75. Math is not my strong suit – but that’s no excuse for my screwing it up in print.

By: Frankie Talarico Jr.

Frankie Talarico Jr. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:05:34 +0000

Joists for a bench. I like that, and after reading all the comments I am feeling much more confident. I would hate to spend a day for something I won’t use. So you’re saying it levels out ok? I am concerned with my tooling, Any one come across rocks or metial chips throughout? Like ply wood sometimes has.

By: LizPf

LizPf — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:49:33 +0000

I guess this is the right place for my question …

I’ve been following the progress of this bench with great interest, because i’d like to build one for myself. I was especially interested in finding out the height of Megan’s bench, as she and i are both "sensibly sized" (5’2").I love Chris’ writing, and really like his bench ideas, but there’s no way a bench for him will work for me.

So you can imagine my disappointment when my magazine arrived and the bench was scaled up to 33" tall! I know the photographed bench is much shorter.

Is there somewhere I can get scale drawings for a *Megan-sized* bench?

–Liz

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:24:30 +0000

I’m really excited about this and am very thankful for all of the documentation that has been happening, but I’ve gotten lost somewhere. In a previous post, Chris says that a 2x12x24 piece of LVL was $110, and based on the article dimensions you’d need more than 1 of those just for the top, which here is $75… I didn’t see any other mention of that in the magazine, what am I missing?
-Kevin

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:46:21 +0000

Ooops…my bad, seems we have had a mini-size magazine already as the October issue was small also…guess I hadn’t noticed last month…maybe this has been so for a while…

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:01:51 +0000

Honey I shrunk the LVL bench…

But only because the magazine has gotten so small. What did you guys leave the magazines in water or something? It’s not even 8 1/2" x 11", which used to be a standard piece of paper…

Well, I guess times are tough all over and the economy has forced a small magazine on us…*sigh*

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:14:15 +0000

Awesome! I don’t usually comment on anything I read over the internet, but when I caught wind of this project, evidently I couldn’t help myself.

I think the idea of a LVL work bench is superb! Sometimes we are dubious when using new materials, so I thought I might throw in my experience.

One of my very first woodworking projects was a front door for my parents house made with an LVL core, hefty mortised joints and a 1/8 oak veneer on top. Our winters here have severe temperature fluctuations ranging from -35C to +15C over two consecutive days, and as the door is an exterior door, it has to withstand these horrendous temperatures on one side, and room temperature on the other. Also we live in a fairly dry climate (semi-arid), but these last two summers have been exceptionally wet. Not to mention the heft of the door, close to 200lbs hanging off of three hinges. All this and the door is still utterly perfect. Obviously LVL is designed to withstand all manner of stress and to resist warping, so, while its not designed with doors or work benches in mind, I have to say that it is more than capable, if not monstrously heavy.

Thanks for this, I cant wait to build my own pink based gluebo out of long forgotten scraps from the garage!

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:42:48 +0000

I’m glad to hear that Megan because I made the same choice. I considered a couple of options and came to the conclusion that if it turned into a problem someday I’d address it then.

I didn’t use LVL for the base, just the top. I’m interested in seeing yours and the article next week in PA.

By: Greg Peel

Greg Peel — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:11:44 +0000

Your articles make it sound so tempting to build one of these for myself. I didn’t know the LVL was so inexpensive. The lamenant lines on the top do look interesting and better than plywood, I suppose because of the plys all running in one direction. How do you like your bench thus far? Thank you Megan.