I have read on the internet about the great qualities of ipe. One quality I have not read very much about is how well ipe’s glue joints hold up when used outdoors. Will face-glued and edge-glued joints hold in the sun? For example, would a laminated bench leg last in the elements, or would I be wasting time and money?
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Hi Josh,
To begin, we published this article on Ipe a few years back. It provides a good overview of its working properties.
The article doesn't address its ability to hold a glue joint but I can tell you from anecdotal experience that it doesn't perform any worse than other species. Especially in the case of face and edge joints, a proper glue up will create a joint that is stronger than the wood itself.
If you are concerned about heat from the sun, I think the bigger issue is the type of glue you use. Standard yellow glues are pretty heat resistant but there are other types that will hold up better, such as Polyurethane glues. Check out this article, which details the heat-resistant properties for the most popular glues.
In conclusion. Summer's here, get started building!
Matt Berger
Fine Woodworking
Thanks for the response and the articles. They both made me feel better about the investment. Keep up the good work.
Josh
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