Replies

1. 
   Rickk | Sep 24, 2006 04:10pm | #1

   Hi Quick, I use them & they are dense,but allow the panel to move a bit if needed.      Later      Rickkk

2. 
   BruceS | Sep 24, 2006 07:47pm | #2

   You've got it exactly right. 3/16" off each side of the panel or easier for me to remember to take 3/8"  overall off the panel.  That's if your cutters do the typical 3/8" dado.   The space balls are a  neoprene type rubber and for lack of another comparison just a little more compressible than car tire rubber.  They are solid and not a foam type material.  Guarantee you'll never go back to the foam tape.  You don't have to go nuts with them either,  I generally use 3 - 4  per  edge of the panel.   Minimum of 2 on top & bottom of narrow panels.  Your 3/16" of the panel in the dado is what I do all of the time.  A real time saver.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   EdHarrow | Sep 25, 2006 03:50am | #3

   The mind boggles... ;-)

3. 
   dull tool | Sep 25, 2006 08:56am | #4

   Quickstep
   I have never used spaceballs!! I simply center the pre-finished panel in the frame opening and then drive a 9/16" pin thru the top and botton at the rear face of the frame. This holds the panel centered in the vertical and allows it to expand uniformely in the horizontal - assuming the grain is running vertically, other visa versa would apply. Also, if you get into wider panels, it is best to calculate the anticipated expansion/contraction the type of lumber and the temp/humidity conditions it will be subjected to.

   Attached is a sample of my latest frame and panel construction for a blanket chest.

   
4. 
   dull tool | Sep 25, 2006 09:03am | #5

   Quickstep the attachment failed to come thru, I'll try again.

   
5. 
   gb93433 | Sep 25, 2006 09:42am | #6

   You can get different sizes.

6. 
   JohnWW | Sep 27, 2006 03:58pm | #7

   If you make the panels undersized so that they only go into the rabbet a short way they will quite possibly shrink so much in dry weather that the edges will be exposed.

   John White Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

7. 
   mudman | Sep 27, 2006 04:55pm | #8

   I use space balls and it took me a lot of thinking and a couple of practice runs to get the exact fit I want. I think that they are a little too hard, so I like to have them only a little compressed. I worry that if they are too tight then the frame might break under the stress. I've never actually seem that happen, but who knows. On the other hand my pannels pretty much always shrink after installation so if the space balls are not compressed enough the panel will end up too loose. I also only use 4 balls, one on each side. I agree with the poster who uses pins. That is the most straight forward solution. However without the space balls the panels can have a rattling that makes the doors sound cheep.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.