Chips observations are correct
All good observations here. Indeed, one of the boards laminated between others in the vertical leg had some bad spots. My thinking? Its laminated between other pieces, is grossly oversized structurally anyway, and takes mostly vertical stresses. Besides, although a pretty good stack of wood on hand its going to take all of it to get the project done and there isnt much to spare. So into the works it went.
Also. I dont think the glue joints were really strong. Just by the fact it seemed to come apart along the glue joints.
I do think its a moisture related issue. The outside board cupped (a lot... maybe 1/8 inch cup across a 5 in board. This leads me to believe it was drying from the outside surface (concave, so the outer surface shrank wrt the side that was against the other pieces). Also, I wonder if the particular board in question may have been near the bottom of the stack (raised off a concrete floor by about 3.5 in resting on 2x4 on edge). So maybe some higher moisture because it was on the bottom of this stack.
And the only real reason it split (that I can tell) was the forces due to the cupping. If it hadnt cupped, it wouldnt have split the leg. Meaning, some pretty impressive forces created just due to the shrinkage. (definitely need a moisture meter.... on the list).
When I tried regluing I tried just working glue into the crack area and clamping. A dozen heavy duty clamps later... no chance of this working, and in fact it was looking like the outside surface of the wood itself was just going to be pulled apart this way. So a aresaw/surface/glue, with acclimation this time.
I just didnt expect it to fail this catastrophically. Figured all the pieces would move together. Live and learn. It was just what wood I had and it will still come out decent, just a little setback/redo. I am glad I hadnt yet glued it up (sometimes distractions are a good thing??). Remember, you cant have too many projects 15% complete!! ;)
All repaired now, and the glued up top (~2ft wide by 4.5 in high... some 50 pieces) is holding flat and true, so I am hopeful its still going to make a decent bench. Ask me again in 3 years of temp cycles..... maybe it will just pop apart piece by piece.
Did finish this project off
A couple detours here and there (other duties call), but I did finish this project off so posting some pics of the finished bench. I will add a face vice later in the year.
The front board on the top is 8/4 hard maple, and I made the dog holes from a piece of cherry and laminated between walnut (for no particular reason)
In the end it came together nicely, and a worthy end product from a stack of some pretty rough wood to start with. We will see how this Elm behaves in time.
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_1375a.jpg
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_1376a.jpg
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_1382a.jpg
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_1383a.jpg
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_1385a.jpg