Replies

1. 
   user-3395150 | Nov 02, 2021 11:29pm | #1

   You want some space between the panel field and the stiles. If it fit tight it could blow out the joints if the panel expanded due to humidity.

   Lots of ways to cut the rabbets, dado stack will work. If you have a shoulder plane, I would leave them a hair thick off the saw and cleanup with the plane.

1. 
   user-6920478 | Nov 02, 2021 11:36pm | #2

   Thanks I would have thought the panel would expand at the end (into the grove) . Learn something new every day

1. 
   oxmach | Nov 03, 2021 06:56am | #5

   The panel should be sized to take into account that it will expand across its width into the groove without it bottoming out. As noted above, the reveal will allow the panel to slide in and out 1/8 without getting hung up on the styles. This reveal allow for a panel thicker than 1/4 to be used.

1. 
   user-6920478 | Nov 04, 2021 03:11am | #7

   Hi thanks for your reply, but I need to clarify. The rabbeted end of the panel is 5/16". The groove on the stile is 1/4". This leaves a 1/16" gap on either side. This space 1/16" gap is where the wood mmovement occurs? I just assumed it moved at the end of the panel. It was imperative that the grove was 1/16" deeper than the panel end

1. 
   oxmach | Nov 04, 2021 07:10am | #9

   The panel will expand or contract across its width as humidity changes. The 5/16 rabbet leaves you with a 1/16 reveal on all 4 edges. The top and bottom will not expand or contract for any practical purpose so the reveal is the to even out the look. The panel sides will slide in or out of the groove up to a 1/16 on either side. When you put the panel in the rails and styles, you should be able to tweak it to centre the reveal evenly all around.

2. 
   user-6920478 | Nov 04, 2021 10:12am | #11

   Thank you for your help! I now understand

2. 
   user-6920478 | Nov 04, 2021 03:11am | #8

   Hi thanks for your reply, but I need to clarify. The rabbeted end of the panel is 5/16". The groove on the stile is 1/4". This leaves a 1/16" gap on either side. This space 1/16" gap is where the wood mmovement occurs? I just assumed it moved at the end of the panel. It was imperative that the grove was 1/16" deeper than the panel end

1. 
   john_c2 | Nov 04, 2021 09:26am | #10

   The entire panel moves, not just the edges. You need that gap all around.

2. 
   jim_hall | Nov 04, 2021 04:26pm | #12

   Sounds like that 5/16" rabbet is throwing you off since the depth of the groove is only a 1/4". The author didn't have in mind for the entire rabbet to fit into the groove. Rather the extra 1/16" would sort of form a groove or shadow line around the frame and sort of mask a little any seasonal expansion and contraction of the panel in the groove. The panel will be narrower than the opening it sits in to allow for the seasonal movement. Although a little wider groove is shown in picture below, it would look something like this. If you look closely, you may see the groove on the side is wider than at the bottom because the panel contracts or shrinks a little this time of year.

   
1. 
   user-6920478 | Nov 05, 2021 04:27pm | #13

   Thanks for your help!

2. 
   elmaduro | Nov 03, 2021 01:28am | #3

   A router table setup also works well for the rabbets.

3. 
   Deleted | Nov 03, 2021 06:23am | #4

   “[Deleted]”

4. 
   roy.unit8c | Nov 03, 2021 09:57am | #6

   I think before tablesaws and routers that grooves were made with plow planes, router planes and chisels. With the advent of tablesaws and routers the grooves can now be easier made to a more consistent depth, shallower and narrower, yet still strong. When making smaller things, the machines really come in handy.