Popular Post SawDustB Posted May 8, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 So this journal should be pretty short. I debated doing one, since it's not exactly fine woodworking, but this is where my shop time is going right now. My mother in law's birthday is in a couple of weeks, so I made the foolish suggestion that she might like a decorative bridge for her garden. She's very much into rustic type things... Anyway, I came up with a very basic arched design. I decided to used bent lamination for the main supports, using gorilla glue (good for outdoors and won't creep). Here's the first glue up. I learned a few things: 1. I hate gorilla glue 2. I put on too much gorilla glue 3. I need to work faster on these things The glue up went OK, but there was a lot of squeeze out to clean off. Next, I had a lot of sanding to do. I had to drop to 60 grit to clean it off. Then it was time to make slats. I'm mostly using left over deck boards from a few years ago when I built my deck. And all ripped and cross cut to size. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Looks like a fun project. What kind of wood did you use in the arches ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Looks like a fun project. What kind of wood did you use in the arches ? The arches started out as red cedar 2x6. I ripped them down to 1/4 inch strips for the lamination. I'm having fun with it so far... Kind of nice to have a simple project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Cool project. I need to learn to shut my mouth sometimes on suggesting projects so i know what it's like. At least this one is pretty simple and it seems like a nice change of pace. I look forward to seeing the finished product! Yeah i don't know who buys gorilla glue honestly. Almost all of the wood workers i know personally use titebond. On here it seems that people use titebond or epoxy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Project is looking very good so far. Look forward to seeing this progress. I think that gorilla glue actually gets it's name from the fact that it leaves your fingers and hands a greenish brown color. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Looking good! -Ace- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 After a little quality time with a round over bit, I'm ready to look at assembling. I know they're almost a bad word around here, but I think the pocket hole jig with outdoor screws is the way to go here. Likely with some construction adhesive for good measure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Next time you use Gorilla Glue, wrap the piece with stretch wrap before clamping. GG doesn't need air to cure, and the wrap keeps the mess under control. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Next time you use Gorilla Glue, wrap the piece with stretch wrap before clamping. GG doesn't need air to cure, and the wrap keeps the mess under control. That's a good idea. I did put plastic around it to keep glue off my clamps and the form, but it still foamed at the joint. It was far worse on the first one, because I had about 50% more glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 A bit more progress last night. I sanded the slats up to 120 and started marking and drilling all the pocket holes. I'll have another round of that tonight then hopefully clamping and assembly. I still haven't totally figured out the little rails that will be at the sides... Probably need to cut more stock to bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 I finished drilling pocket holes last night and started assembly. It seems I can't count, because I just realized I'm one slat short. I also need more screws to finish, so it's off to the store today. Here's where things stand. I'll see how it looks after I get the rest of the slats on. I'm still torn on whether to put any sort of rail on the sides. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 That's looking awesome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 That type bridge is enhanced by curved railings. Your results so far look good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 I agree with Steve about the railings, but maybe not actual hand-rail height railings. I think it would look odd to be taller than it is long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 I agree as to scale. Find a picture of an arched bridge w railings and make your railings appear proportional. The only time the railings will look out of scale is when someone is on the bridge, otherwise it will appear just a little more distant than it is. Sometimes the best way to scale is to draw it full scale on a sheet of MDF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 The bridge is only about 3 feet long, so full size railings would look too big. My wife still really likes the toe rail idea, so I cut more strips today to laminate for it. I only had about half an hour though so not much more progress. The mini railing would work for me, but I'm not the final design authority on this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 The curve for a toe railing could also be used as a mini handrail. You could figure out a proportional height and mock up 4 posts to look at it. In the yard from a distance I bet it would look wicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 7 hours ago, wdwerker said: The curve for a toe railing could also be used as a mini handrail. You could figure out a proportional height and mock up 4 posts to look at it. In the yard from a distance I bet it would look wicked. That's a good idea, Steve. I'm hoping to laminate the pieces tonight, so I may try that tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 A few more slats... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SawDustB Posted May 14, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 And gluing up the rails for the sides. This took every clamp I own, pretty much. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Looks awesome! You just never have enough clamps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Looks great Brian! Looks like every clamp in your shop joined the party !! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Looks good. Have you decided what to do about "hand rails" yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Thanks guys! Obviously I need more clamps... Other than pipe clamps and edge clamps, that's all of them. I clamped up the rails so they would work as the toe rail. I'll probably try mocking them up a couple of ways before I attach them. I just used the bridge as a form; nothing's attached. Apparently this is likely to have flowerpots living on it, so the handrail may not fly with my customer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Great work. Really looking nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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