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I am making a table from Lemon Scented Gum. Working with this timber, are there any suggestions as to what glue I should use as the timber appears to be waxy. This timber has been slabbed and air dried for at least 2 plus years and is quite dry. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Lemon Scented Gum is a Corymbia and has very similar properties and appearance to Spotted Gum. Probably most of the modern glues will give reasonable results providing the work is not under extreme stress as in laminated bending. I use Titebond 3 for most of my work including Spotted Gum (I have not knowingly used LSG), but the recommendations are to use a lot of clamping pressure. That would only apply to the PVAs and derivatives; not the epoxy glues which should not be squeezed.
Not on the issue of gluing but be aware that the sapwood is very prone to lyctid attack. It either needs to be treated or removed.
Regards
Paul
Also freshly planed surfaces help with glueing and if in doubt, wipe the surface with acetone prior to remove the waxy surface
Acetone is definitely the go. Apply to the edges just prior to glueing, with enough time for the acetone to evaporate before applying the glue.
Epoxy glue will give the best bond if you feel the top is going to be "active" but it is messy to use. Otherwise, Titebond 3 works well on most hardwoods. Remember to alternate the end grains.
I have finished making this table and am now trying to decide what finish to apply to this table. I dont want a "plastic "look, ie. polyurethane or something similar. As I want a mat/flat finish, I am thinking of using Feast & Watson Fine Buffing Oil or a straight Tung Oil. In members opinion, which product would be better? Bearing in mind that the product used would have to handle the wear of general living. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
I love straight tung oil - that is, I thin it with vegetable turpentine before flooding it on and refreshing it until it stops showing dry spots, after a time I wipe up the excess and discard the rags in a safe place. All three 3000x850 and 2400x850 work benches in my kitchen as well as the cabinet doors have been treated like that - the benchtops had 6 or 9 applications, and after just over 2 years they are as good as new. I am just starting to wonder if I should give them another coat. Saligna for the benchtops, birch ply for the cabinets. I think we ended up with one ring from a mug on one bench ... barely visible. Generally water just beads off. It just takes a good long time to really set, that's the one drawback. I don't care: the tung oil takes good care of my woodwork!
wonderful suggestions . Thanks all, I am new here and this community providing me great help in woodworking.