Hi, I am planning on making a 12″ tall jewellery chest using 4″ wide American Cherry 1/2 ” thick boards edge joined so that the grain runs horizontally. I had thought of using splined mitre joints at the corners with decorative brass angle strips glued on vertically using fish glue, which I find good to use for attaching brass to timber.
I am concerned about possible wood movement and so have two questions.
1/ Should I glue the wood splines in place or just leave them to float free?
2/ Will the brass strip stay attached if there is much timber movement?
If anyone has any other suggestions of how to go about the corner joint I would be happy to consider them.
Thanks
Derek
1/ Should I glue the wood splines in place or just leave them to float free?
2/ Will the brass strip stay attached if there is much timber movement?
If anyone has any other suggestions of how to go about the corner joint I would be happy to consider them.
Thanks
Derek
Replies
Since the boards will be running horizontally, I would dovetail the corners.
It will be very difficult to avoid gluing the splines as you apply glue to the remainder of the joint surface. And without being glued, the splines will offer very little strength to the joint. Go ahead and glue them. Just make sure the grain of the spline runs the same direction as the side panels.
I would glue on the brass corners with something flexible like a rubbery caulk applied only to the center 1/3rd. Otherwise, they might pop off as the wood moves. I'm guessing, but I think total movement of the 12" sides will be in the area of 1/8" under extreme changes of temp and humidity.
Hi Billy,
Thanks, the splines I have used before as you suggest so will probably go that way.
Do you have any product names for the rubbery compound as I live in New Zealand and could then Google it to see if I could get something similar here.
Cheers
Derek
Hi John,
Thanks, but I am afraid fine hand-cut dovetails whilst they would look good they are beyond my capabilities. The last time I cut dovetails was over 50 years ago at high school!
Cheers
Derek
I don't know what brands you have available, but go to your home center or hardware store and look at the caulking tubes they sell. Maybe a sales person can help find the ones that are most flexible. Small tubes of silicone seal are also available in the adhesives section. You can also minimize the expansion differences by gluing the metal pieces on by applying glue (or caulk) only in the center 1/3 of the piece letting the ends "float".
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