Thread: Laminated panels from the big green shed

My church has used them quite extensively to build serving tables, and counters.

Is there anything particular that you're interested in understanding about them? at the end of the day they do the job.

Personally i do feel they are on the expensive side, but thats coming from a person that has the tools and wood to replicate a panel.

Biggest concerns are glueing the oiled panel on joins and matching the finish on cuts if i use the acacia

and if I’ll face any issues with the merabau warping due to moisture and what finish to apply to it

Unfortunately im quite limited in tools and space, so my plan is to ask a cabinetmaker maker i know to cut the panels to size and then assemble at home. Sadly there seems to be no maker-spaces or affordable shared workshops in my area orientated at woodworing that i can find so im really banking in him letting me use his tools & expertise for a day


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The oil finish is quite thin, so by the time you cut your mortises you should have any issues with glue ups. Matching the finish would be fairly easy, just ask the staff and they would point you in the right direction.

In terms of warping, all the benches at my church appear flat and ok. They have been in regular use for about 4 years now. Having said that, the guy that made the benches came to a picnic not long after he made the benches with an offcut and had been using it as a chopping board. No idea if he had been using it for long or stored conditions but it had a very noticeable bow. So under extreme conditions the panel will bow.

Good luck with your project, I'd be surprised if a cabinet maker will let you use their tools, purely from a insurance liability point of view.