Laminating Wood Question

Actually, in some cases, lamination can be better than a solid piece of wood. It can make the beam/post more stable. Basically, lamination is gluing two or more pieces together. If done right, you can have a stronger and more stable beam than if it was one solid piece…But since you say you don’t know anything about it, you might be better off finding a solid piece and going from there. Go to your local lumber yard that sells construction lumber and inquire there, probably save you some headaches too.

-- Childress Woodworks

Not to veer of topic but have you considered the option of using 3/4 or 4/4 stock and cutting eight pieces with corresponding 67.5 degree angles to produce the octagon with less waste and weight?

That is a good idea too. Thank You for sharing it with me.

-- Andrew "Yes I can" from NC

If you want to make a laminated beam you will need to first resurface all faces that will be glued so the glue will work the best. I read at one time but can’t remember the exact reason why but wood left to open air will tend to hold glue less strongly than a fresh surface; also, the surfaces need to be flat and true. Clamping is necessary. And as Childress said a laminated beam can indeed be stronger and even more reliable than a solid wood beam as you won’t need to worry so much about future warpage and cracking; the glue holds it all together. While it will be somewhat of a task, it will also be much cheaper; big wood carries a big price. Lastly, look for kiln dried wood, it will be much better than the typical green lumber.

-- Power tools put us ahead of the monkeys

You’ll get a more stable pillar if you “cooper” it from beveled boards.

If you cut it from a solid beam, it will surely crack somewhere. If that’s
okay with you, then go solid.

Carving such forms from solid wood has it’s own rewards, like an interesting
appearance for clear finishing, but if you’re just after the easiest, most
predictable way to make an octagonal pillar, go with the angled glue joints.