Anyone here ever try making their own glulams? I’m thinking of doing a couple at 6x28x35′. Im figuring clear material on the top and bottom and kiln dried in between. Maybe resorcinal or gorrilla glue. Do you just clamp the hell out of them, one layer at a time? Is there any set of engineering specs associated with store bought? I’ve bought numerous glulams from the lumber yard over the years and I don’t recall any inspectors ever asking about them.
Thanks,
Tom
Replies
Forget all the 'kiln dried in between'. Waste of wood for 28" depth.
Make yourself a box beam, or buy a truss and sheath it with finish plywood of your choice if exposed.
Forget all the 'kiln dried in
soooo slllooowwww thot id missed da button...
will it really save you that much to not purchase it? i wouldnt think the savings would be worth the effort.
gave it some thought
No, it won't save that much, if anything. Just wondering about doing it. Seems simple enough.
Sure, the concept is simple enough: glue flat board together. Reality: you have to flatten all those lumber yard boards. They are already sort of flat but not to the degree you need for a structural joint. So you'll need a monster jointer and some sort of infeed/outfeed device. Then you'll need a big box of clamps to be able to achieve the glue manufacturer's required clamping pressure. And you may require all your friends to help in order to clamp it up within the required time allotment.
You need a hard setting glue. One that offers no creep: urea formaldahyde or epoxy are the usual choices for the home builder.
Don't forget to design and build-in a bit of camber.
even then
Even after all those heroic feats I doubt it possible to clamp it up without some hydraulic or otherwise power assisted clamping device..
That maroon colored glue that comes powdered in buckets isn't that expensive and I do have a planer that can easily handle dry 2x6s. I'm certain I can get a joint that is stronger than the wood itself so I'm not seeing as big a problem as you appear to be seeing. Glue them up a layer or two at a time. It's doable.
However, I can't do it as cheaply as I can buy 'em.
home made beams
Gluelam, box beams etc. are engineered and really not something you bang together in the back yard. If you build it, you are resposibile should it fail. Failure could not only result in costly damage, but injury and even death.
See you in court. Are thinking about acting as your own lawyer. :)
If you have questions about the type of glue, grade of lumber, methods of construction and how to do the engineering, my guess is that about 30 minutes into the project, you will wish you had never ever thought of it. Good luck.
ANSI Standard A190.1-2012, Standard for Wood Products—Structural Glued Laminated Timber.
Available from the APA: http://www.apawood.org/ansi-a190-1 ( you have to register with them to download files)
A 6x28 x 35' will weigh well over 1000 lb. for SPF, somewhat more for Fir or Yellow Pine.
Got to ask why you would even consider this?
This reply is just a test