Thread: Gluing up an outdoor hardwood table...

With dimensions like that, this is similar to the tables that you find in public parks for family barbeques and picnics. There should be some near you - look around.

Almost always, the planks in these park bench tables are spaced about 5 mm apart, and are rarely glued together. This is based on the experience of councils, parks and schools over many years.

I would not glue them together.

Thanks for your response, Graeme.
I did suggest to him that gluing the top might not be wise, but he seems to have his heart set on it.

OK, Scott.

Given his paucity of equipment, I would assume that the planks have not been jointed well. This puts us in make-do mode or damage minimalisation mode.

My approach would then be:

• Use Dominoes or biscuits to ensure vertical alignment of the planks,
• Use thickened epoxy for strength and gap filling properties,
• Glue planks in pairs, then two pairs to form half tables, then glue halves together.

But I still think that my first suggestion was better. Or be careful that you do not get blamed for a sub-optimal job.

Thanks again, Graeme.
The planks are very straight and square - he bought them locally and I was impressed the milling job.
Biscuits it is.
I like the idea of doing it in sections to make it more controllable.
I'll investigate the epoxy. I have lots of Tightbond, but have minimal experience with epoxy.
It's his project. I'm just providing the space and clamps and an extra pair of hands and I'm comfortable operating in make-do mode.

All sounds good, Scott.

I routinely use PVA - not Titebond - but switch to WEST epoxy if I have any doubts. If the joins are tight, Titebond should be fine.

If you decide to go with epoxy, I would use the following method:

• Measure resin and hardener accurately and stir well, until streakiness disappears; WEST say max error of 3%,
• Wait 5 mins for components to mix properly,
• Paint coat on each glue surface - this soaks in and improves bonding,
• Thicken epoxy to consistency of clag,
• Apply consistent coat of epoxy to glue surfaces, align and clamp,
• Wait an hour, then scrape off squeeze out.

With epoxies, I suggest that you avoid 5-minute and discount brands - they are all crap. Known brands are essentially good, stick to one and learn its quirks.

Head the safety warnings; the chemicals really are nasty and the effects are cumulative.

So an outside table, is it going to be undercover or fully outside and in the elements? If its outside in the elements then any gluing is a complete waste, the timber is probably still green, yep someone will say its been seasoned but that doesn't matter as Mother Nature will have her way and the timber will dry out and crack and bend and twist and warp etc.

I'm not sure of the exact location, Rod.
I will counsel him.
Yesterday I emailed him and said the consensus was that gluing was not wise.
He'll be over next weekend with his wood so we'll have a chat.
It will be up to him.

I agree with Rod. If it’s exposed to the weather, gluing the boards together WILL be a failure.

The young bloke whose project it is has gone quiet, so he must be pondering things after my feedback.