What to build a Interior Square Column out of?

You might consider MDO vs MDF. It's a lot easier to paint and is a bit
more structurally sound. It can be had in 10 foot sheets (as can MDF
or any sheet good) but since you are painting you can probably tape,
plaster and sand it just like sheet rock.

On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 15:59:17 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>On 27 Sep 2005 13:51:26 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>I will be building a set of interior square columns that will be
>>non-load bearing, and will consist of a post and lintel. I planned
>>to paint them white but may consider finishing the wood depending on
>>what I use. The span of the lintel will be ~10' and have one full
>>column in the middle and 2 half columns on the ends. I'm curious
>>about the best material to use for this; Veneered Plywood, MDF, or
>>Hardwood? If I were to use hardwood, what species? Poplar comes to
>>mind because if price and the fact that it would be painted.
>>
>>The advantage I saw to sheet goods was price and consistency, the
>>disadvantage being limited to a 8' seamless section.
>>
>>I'd appreciate any suggestions on materials and construction
>>techniques.
>
>
>
>your finish schedule will drive your materials selection. if you are
>going for a smooth painted finish MDF or MDO will be good choices. if
>you want rough sawn painted, spruce may be what you find. if it'll be
>finished stained or clear use a decent grade of the appropriate
>species



and you can get around some of the material limitations like length
and edge finishing with a little creative design. kinda hokey to put a
keystone in the middle of a span, but in some situations something
like that can save your butt. flutes on the column sides can make a
cap on the corner look plausible, or an oversize corbel and capital
might get your span down to 8 feet. the results can be dramatic or
comic... draw it out to scale as large as you can to see if you're
making a big mistake before you go buying any wood...

On 27 Sep 2005 13:51:26 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>
>
>I will be building a set of interior square columns that will be
>non-load bearing, and will consist of a post and lintel. I planned
>to paint them white but may consider finishing the wood depending on
>what I use. The span of the lintel will be ~10' and have one full
>column in the middle and 2 half columns on the ends. I'm curious
>about the best material to use for this; Veneered Plywood, MDF, or
>Hardwood? If I were to use hardwood, what species? Poplar comes to
>mind because if price and the fact that it would be painted.
>
>The advantage I saw to sheet goods was price and consistency, the
>disadvantage being limited to a 8' seamless section.
>
>I'd appreciate any suggestions on materials and construction
>techniques.



your finish schedule will drive your materials selection. if you are
going for a smooth painted finish MDF or MDO will be good choices. if
you want rough sawn painted, spruce may be what you find. if it'll be
finished stained or clear use a decent grade of the appropriate
species