Question for those of you who have built your tables out of cypress

jimithing

I live in the Dallas area and it have found a few places that carry cypress but the largest I can find is 8/4 rough cut.  I was hoping to make the legs out of 4x4's so there's plenty of room to attach casters.  Anyone have any suggestions other than gluing two 8/4's together?  I might have to change to cedar or something.

Eggcelsior

@nolaegghead did but I believe he used reclaimed pecky cypress. He's in New Orleans. Hopefully he sees this. 

Randall_Lee

I was going to do cypress but the only place with in 50 miles was out not that it matters to this  thread, why not do a "L" shaped leg then just add a  couple of blocks at the bottom for the casters?

Budge

Laminating 8/4 to achieve 16/4 is stronger and more stable than a single piece provided a suitable waterproof adhesive is used.

Proser

Have you checked Lee Roy Jordan lumber I bet they can order it if they don't stock them

jimithing

Randall_Lee said:

I was going to do cypress but the only place with in 50 miles was out not that it matters to this  thread, why not do a "L" shaped leg then just add a  couple of blocks at the bottom for the casters?

That is a thought, thanks.  For some reason 1 solid piece of wood seems stronger in my head. 

jimithing

Proser said:

Have you checked Lee Roy Jordan lumber I bet they can order it if they don't stock them

Yes, they no longer carry Cypress.  The guy I talked to said their supplier could no longer get it reliably so they stopped carrying it.  Central Hardwoods and Hardware Lumber Company of Dallas both had the 8/4 as well as thinner pieces. 

Proser

Too bad. It would be some work but look good if you laminated 3/4 stock instead of the 8/4. Give your legs some character

Randall_Lee

jimithing said:

Randall_Lee said:

I was going to do cypress but the only place with in 50 miles was out not that it matters to this  thread, why not do a "L" shaped leg then just add a  couple of blocks at the bottom for the casters? 

That is a thought, thanks.  For some reason 1 solid piece of wood seems stronger in my head. 

Not all ways a good screwed glued joint can be stronger, think laminated beams. A 4X4 leg would look better but not any stronger just my humble opin.

henapple

Look at ipe

PlanoPokes79

Did you try ACM materials, they are just south of leroy's place? 

jimithing

PlanoPokes79 said:

Did you try ACM materials, they are just south of leroy's place? 

No, they don't have Cypress listed on their website but I'll shoot them an e-mail and ask.  Thanks.

jimithing

henapple said:

Look at ipe

Thought about it but never worked with it - hear it's difficult.  It's also quite a bit more expensive.

jimithing

BTW, I did find a place down in Austin that apparently carries rough cut 4x4's.  I've been looking for an excuse to go try Franklin's so maybe I'll make the trip if I can't find it locally.

pgprescott

use a regular 4x4 and cover them with cypress.

nolaegghead

Laminating thinner pieces of wood to create a thicker, say, leg is a legitimate solution to not having access to thicker lumber.  I do it all the time.  While you don't need the strength of a 4x4" leg for an egg table, it looks better.  Laminates are generally stronger than solid wood, but don't think about this, it's moot.  Once it's built, you don't really notice the glue joints.