Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Making Glue Blocks
Tom Colligan, Peoria
>Is there any reason why you couldn't use softwood for making these. I'd like to make some 4 or 5 inch blocks from some 2 by stock I have to put on a 3 inch faceplate. Yet the reading I've done says to use hardwood. How come? Tia, Tom.
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Jay Sullivan
>I have always used ponderosa pine. It is what I have on hand and have not had a failure.
Jay
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Russ Fairfield
>It depends on your definition of softwood and hardwood. If your definition of "softwood" is Pine and Fir, they do not make good glue blocks because they are too soft and split too easilly along the grain boundary lines. There is no problem with using a "soft hardwood" such as Poplar, or Alder, and you will find a lot of woodturners using them.
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Russ Fairfield
>And now you have 2 opinions. Actually, we agree. The difference is that the grain of Ponderosa Pine would make a good glue block, while one of the Southern Pines would not be my 1st choice.
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Dennis Taylor (Akron, Ohio)
>I use 2 x stock, and cut round discs from it, and just screw it to faceplate...cheap, and it seems to work well, I use it for bowls, and haven't had a failure...maybe I am just being LUCKY!..Dennis
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.
>I use alder for glue blocks. Alder never warps, so I always have a flat and true surface for gluing. Alder is soft, so it parts off well, and it has very little grain, so it doesn't tend to split. Never use plywood, as it may separate. Fir and some pines tend to split easily.
Wally
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Tom Colligan, Peoria
>Do you each make your glue blocks from 6/4 stock or is 4/4 OK? Thanks,
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Don Henthorn
>In a moment of complete inobjectivity several weeks ago I posted about using 2" X 4" s as glue block material. I had been using old long leaf pine 2 bys for this and it worked fine. Then I ran out of that material and switched to another board which turned out to be southern yellow pine. I had two failures in a week where the wood of the glue block split along the grain lines. My opinion is to go with a hardwood other than pine. Find a cabinet shop that will let you go through its cut off bin to get glue block material.
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.
>I use unplaned 4/4 alder. It's a full inch in thickness.
Wally
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Roly (So Cal)
>I try to keep some ready-cut 3/4" pine glue blocks already cut round with the band saw. They fit into my nova chuck, can be rechucked accurately if needed and I have never had a failure. I usually clamp up "tomorrow's" turnings just before I leave the shop. All that is required on rough tree blanks is a flat spot large enough to glue them to. A large forsner bit in the drill press works fine for this job. On smaller turnings, I found that square glue blocks work just as well, and are quicker to make. Now, back to the lathe to see what tomorrow has in store.
Roly~~ PS, I glue a cardboard circle to the bottom of the glue block to create a guild for when I bandsaw it round, and the flat block makes it nice and stable. Just my 2 cents.
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Wayne Allen - Carson City. Nevada
>Tom -- I also use alder and/or poplar for glue blocks, but I like to use 8/4 wood because this way I can part off the block and use it over and over until it gets too thin and the screws on the face plate near the edge. I have found this really makes for a fast setup. Just be sure to true the block after each use. Warning -- Do not use 2X6 doug fir for glue blocks. DAMHIKT --Wayne
Re: Making Glue Blocks
DWFII
>Wayne,
where are you getting 8/4 alder?
DWFII
In the High Desert of Central Oregon
Re: Making Glue Blocks
Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.
>Since you live in central Oregon, it should be available in most lumber yards. Nearly all alder is milled in the NW. Washington, Oregon, and B.C.
Wally
