Hi
I’m building an addition and need to match some existing interior exposed posts. They are 10’x7″ made from doug fir. I am having no luck finding a source. I was thinking about making them but I’m afraid they’ll check. All the large dimension fir I’ve worked with has checked. I only need two posts, and I could substitute for the fir if neccessary. Any ideas on suppliers?
Replies
How old are the existing posts? Have they checked? Could you make coopered columns, or do they have to be solid wood? If you can find (and afford) some large, recycled DF timbers, the checking will be all over with by now.
Thanks for the great response.
Bear Creek lumber is under 3' of snow and can't help for a month. The existing posts are 25 years old, solid wood with no checking. Pretty fine grain seeme to be the reason for their stability. I was thinking about glueing up solid 8x8's from some salvaged fir from this job and working that into a post. I did a test on my table saw and was able to get 16 sides and a fairly round look that could be finished with the router/jig/sled combo. I'll repost with some pics if I go that route.
Thanks again, walter
Try these:
http://www.columns.com/co_replication_01.html
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/suppliers_of/11656_Wood_Columns_.shtml
Try Bearcreek Lumber that advertises in FHB. Call them for non-standard items. I know they carry Doug Fir lumber.
Uncle Dunc is right. Coopering is the answer, no matter who makes them. If you have, or can cobble, a lathe that size, it's not particularly difficult. Use biscuits to help in the alignment and be sure you know how the clamping will happen. I'd use resourcinol glue. With internal ventilation all will go well. Fir is fine but other woods are easier to turn. For that radius, you can get it out of 8/4 stock and still have few pieces to glue up.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
What VaTom says, but you dont need a lathe to turn them, you can do it with a router and build a box for them to fit in, set the router on top(make a sled)and spin the post as the router(with a strait bit)turns them round for you, I have done it numerouse times, no problemo.
I have built colums as tall as 13 feet doing it this way, those took me 2 days total.
Let me know if you decide to make them yourself and you need more info.
Doug