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Thread ID: 60145 2005-07-24 02:20:00 Woodworking question - how to join large pieces of old timber? Greg (193) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
374950 2005-07-24 02:20:00 We're buying a new house sometime soon and the missus is paying for most of it, so I want to make her a new home gift... a dining table out of some old timber, maybe old railway line waddyacallits. I've got a smattering of woodwork experience, and am confident about joining the legs et al to each other, but not the top surface planks to each other.

Can anyone point me to a useful site where I can get some hints and tips?

Thanks!
Greg (193)
374951 2005-07-24 02:29:00 For your table top, it'd probably be best to join using dowels, or maybe biscuit joiners - depending of course on how thick your planks are.

I would suggest you try to get hold of the magazine "Practical Woodworking" - it has lots of useful information in it.
somebody (208)
374952 2005-07-24 02:43:00 dining table out of some old timber, maybe old railway line waddyacallits.

In the US these are called "ties", and that is a lot easier to spell than the NZ version: "waddycallits." :groan:
SurferJoe46 (51)
374953 2005-07-24 02:48:00 In the US these are called "ties", and that is a lot easier to spell than the NZ version: "waddycallits." :groan:
LOL

Actually I think they're called "sleepers" here. My problem is that I've lived large parts of my life in various countries outside of NZ so I sometimes get a bit confussed with local terminology.
Greg (193)
374954 2005-07-24 03:04:00 Leave the rails atttached. That should be strong enough. Graham L (2)
374955 2005-07-24 03:09:00 Hey Joe. isnt a Tie something you puy round your neck.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PJ :groan: :groan: Poppa John (284)
374956 2005-07-24 03:11:00 Leave the rails atttached. That should be strong enough.



Leave the engine & wagons off tho, might be a tad heavy otherwise :D :D . PJ
Poppa John (284)
374957 2005-07-24 03:45:00 We're buying a new house sometime soon and the missus is paying for most of it, so I want to make her a new home gift... a dining table out of some old timber, maybe old railway line waddyacallits. I've got a smattering of woodwork experience, and am confident about joining the legs et al to each other, but not the top surface planks to each other.

Can anyone point me to a useful site where I can get some hints and tips?

Thanks!
How thick will top be.will you mill down to say 50m or will you leave original thickness?
I have just made one out of telegraph pole,but had it milled down to 50 m.
Then if you are going to make out of 50 m you need the kit to square and get decent edge.I did use biscuits to align and used a glue that is not affected by greasyness of Jarra.
Cicero (40)
374958 2005-07-24 04:11:00 How thick will top be.will you mill down to say 50m or will you leave original thickness?
I have just made one out of telegraph pole,but had it milled down to 50 m.
Then if you are going to make out of 50 m you need the kit to square and get decent edge.I did use biscuits to align and used a glue that is not affected by greasyness of Jarra.

I think I'll plane it down to about 75 mils, so it looks nice and chunky.

Re "biscuits" I haven't got a clue about that kind of join! :dogeye:
Greg (193)
374959 2005-07-24 04:28:00 I think I'll plane it down to about 75 mils, so it looks nice and chunky.

Re "biscuits" I haven't got a clue about that kind of join! :dogeye:

Here's one site that describes joints:
www.chase-pitkin.com

I prefer oak for cabinet work. Old radiograms are a good source, but getting scarce now, oak bedheads is another source. Some second hand furniture shops may have a stock of old dismantled furniture, there is one in Petone with a huge supply of oak, and price is reasonable.

It would be difficult to get 50/75mm thick slabs, but by suitable edging the appearance of thickness can be achieved without the weight.

Railway sleepers may be soaked in creosote, may be nasty to use for furniture, but admit to no experience of using them.
Terry Porritt (14)
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