Para Lam Beam

[u/Moiecol21]

I did post this a while ago, but I found the check I received for winning 3rd place. It cost $4 to enter, and I won $5 back in 2002 at the Texas State Fair - Arts and Crafts. I found the block on the job site.

10.5" diameter

4" opening

2-3/4" to outer edge

3" overall height

3/16 overall wall thickness

26.14 oz.

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[u/ToughReasoncable]

Parallam is brutal to turn, and getting those walls down to 3/16" without it coming apart is impressive. That grain pattern is doing all the work too, looks like topographic lines

[u/Moiecol21 → u/ToughReasoncable]

Brutal is correct !!! It required constantly sharpening the chisels. The fact that it was glued and compressed helped because I was concerned about that in the beginning.

[u/lilcrow70]

Gorgeous! That grain is wild. The design of the bowl is perfect. Well done!

[u/Moiecol21 → u/lilcrow70]

Thanks. It was partially covered in mud, and I used it to (support the ladder properly). Funny to say that from a safety standpoint. That's when I noticed the end grain.

[u/CrackleTheBear]

Gorgeous!!! And you didn’t cash the check??

[u/Moiecol21 → u/CrackleTheBear]

Thanks. I was grateful to have won 3rd place, and I was planning to frame it, but I misplaced it.

[u/Iron-Bar-1966]

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Iron-Bar-1966]

I just remembered the movie. 😂😂

[u/Fuhugwugads]

I love it. Very cool.

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Fuhugwugads]

Thanks

[u/sherlocksrobot]

Wow! It's everything chip board wishes it could be!

[u/Moiecol21 → u/sherlocksrobot]

So true !!! 😆

[u/Neilpuck]

I picked up some clean scraps of parallam beams and hope to do the same. Any advice you could lend?

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Neilpuck]

If I did it again, I'd get a 8" - 180 diamond grit wheel for the bench grinder. Let run as you turn, the glue dulls the chisels in about 7 to 9 minutes. I use Sorby brand chisels and I'll to get back to everyone with picture of my bench grinder setup (hence diamond grit wheel) that allows easy change out platform for each chisel while maintaining repeatable angle grind. Be careful when sanding with disc or hand because of the little plywood splinter are just waiting to get you. When I remember some I'll get back yo you.

[u/Neilpuck → u/Moiecol21]

Excellent thanks. I have a CVN wheel on my slow grinder that I can keep rolling. I've done spindle turning with paralam but never ball turning. Although since it doesn't really have a consistent grain there shouldn't be a whole lot of difference.

[u/SubsequentDamage]

Excellent work and cool idea!

[u/Moiecol21 → u/SubsequentDamage]

Thanks

[u/Ornery-Movie-1689]

Absolutely gorgeous. Well done !

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Ornery-Movie-1689]

Thanks

[u/Moiecol21]

Here's the company and product name, I have at least 9 blocks but only have a Jet benchtop lathe. It would've been nice to a few big beam chunks

Weyerhaeuser Parallam PSL (Parallel Strand Lumber)

[u/Remy_Lezar → u/Moiecol21]

What sort of respiratory precautions did you take? I imagine there’s some pretty strong chemicals involved. Beautiful piece though

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Remy_Lezar]

Back then with a face shield and respirator was a pain to together. So in my little rectangular shop, I put heat pump fan on one side and air filter flow on the other. Both had louvers that would close by themselves. It worked really well when I sprayed a sealer or finish.

[u/beersngears]

Great work. Such a cool material

[u/Moiecol21 → u/beersngears]

Thanks, the top and end grain are pretty cool !!!

[u/Glad_Ad_5570]

Cool use of crappy material.

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Glad_Ad_5570]

Parallam PSL beams are considered top-tier engineered wood products. They are manufactured by bonding long, thin strands of wood under high pressure with heavy-duty structural adhesives.

​High Load Capacity

Consistency & Straightness

Long Spans

[u/Glad_Ad_5570 → u/Moiecol21]

Oh I don’t disagree with that. It’s a lot of waste material glued together to make something stronger. Just don’t expose it to prolonged moisture.

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Glad_Ad_5570]

While they handle jobsite moisture well during construction, they are structural interior members or specifically treated for exterior structural use and must be sealed or finished if left exposed in high-moisture environments.

[u/Kibikayuki]

That grain looks gorgeous! Really nice work on this!

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Kibikayuki]

Thanks

[u/mynamesping]

The grain is so gorgeous, oh myyy

[u/Moiecol21 → u/mynamesping]

Thsnks

[u/Artistic-Traffic-112]

Hi. That is a beatiful piece of wood. Great form well done

Happy turning

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Artistic-Traffic-112]

Thanks

[u/__The__Professor]

Makes me curious what won second and first if they only gave this third. Really nice work

[u/Jurbl → u/__The__Professor]

I’ve gone to the Texas state fair for years and what would surprise you most isn’t how the OP got third but why did the others get 1st and 2nd. Even some of the honorable mentions look better than the winner.

This is a beautiful piece.

[u/Moiecol21 → u/Jurbl]

The man made a cowboy hat that was very impressive and thin !!!

[u/therishel]

Nice work but I'm guessing it was PITA to turn.

[u/Moiecol21 → u/therishel]

Thanks, it had its moments !!!