Replies

1. 
   ErnieConover | Jan 02, 2006 05:22pm | #1

   Edge to edge glue joints are amongst the strongest joints in woodworking and seldom problematic--unless the edges are improperly jointed or improperly clamped. Assuming proper jointing of the edges and proper clamping the chances of a glue failure are slim. The only caveat to this is that I would avoid having the glue joints line up on all the way around the chest, or even on two adjacent sides. It would be better if they were staggered such as on third from the bottom on the front and one third from the top on the back, etc. You should have similar offsets on the sides which do not, however, quite match the front and back.

2. 
   BossCrunk | Jan 30, 2006 03:29pm | #2

   You absolutely do not want a pin face or tail face (or a narrow part thereof) to fall on a glue line if you can help it.  The best way to avoid any problems is glue up at least six inches over length and trim down from each end.  If a glued panel goes bad it usually does so at the ends.  Strategy is to make the ends not the ends by trimming three or four inches from each end after the glue dries.

    

1. 
   Samson | Jan 30, 2006 05:37pm | #3

   Why do you think they go bad from the ends?  (And I agree they do.)  Slight snipe? 

1. 
   BossCrunk | Jan 31, 2006 01:50am | #4

   Glue-ups just seem to want to open up at the ends if they open up at all.  I haven't really stopped to analyze it.  I always make sure I have a good friction fit out on the ends but I almost always trim a healthy 3 to 4 inches off of each end anyway.

   Probably just a case of a bad experience causing me to be extra conservative.

   Just make sure your layout does not have you sawing into the glue line or very close to it.

   You have to do your *kind of* rough dovetail layout before you arrange the individual boards for glue-up.  At least I do. 

   Cheers.

    

   Edited 1/31/2006 2:13 pm ET by BossCrunk