I’ve a problem looking for a solution. I’m building a couple of bookcases out of Primavera (sp. grav. .45, moisture content 11%). The problem is with one of the backs I constructed which will float. I made them with 3/8″x10″ boards, four to a back. One of the backs wanted to curve so until I was ready to install them I’ve kept them in a light press, sandwiched flat. One of them had a small split that I thought would trim off. But what’s happening is that while flat, it opens during the day to about 14″ long and 1/16″ wide at its largest point. At night, it closes until you can barely see the split, about 1″ long. The temp. where I am (Mexico City) only varies about 15-20 degrees now and the relative humidity is about 50%. The client will have them in a more stable environment although he will be moving to Seattle in a couple of years. The finish will be a wiped varnish – six coats. The only thing I can think of is to gently spread the crack in the early evening and inject it with GF2002, the glue I’m using, and hoping that it’ll take during the night. Any other suggestions ns?
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Replies
If the piece is going to move from Mexico to Seattle, I would give any floating panels a little more breathing room, as Seattle is notoriusly(sp) damp. The glue in the crack trick is probably the best you can hope for.
It sounds like you've got some sort of stress there, and I'd expect the glue trick to eventually fail. Best to deal with the problem permanently now.
If you approached me as a paying customer with this question, as opposed to seeking an opinion in a forum, I wouldn't hesitate to cut out the split and rejoin the panel. At that point, I would consider how cope with the loss in width, which just means adding a strip somewhere.
You've just racked up a $10 consultation fee at a dollar a minute generated in the time taken to read your question and dashing out a response, ha, ha. Slainte.
Website The poster formerly known as RichardJ-- now Sgian Dubh-- again.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. Your suggestion of cutting it out and adding a strip had not occurred to me. Of course, that is the proper thing to do and that's what it'll be. Put your consulting fee on my tab.. I admire your work Sgian.
Several small butterfly dovetails on the back side and glued in would be my suggestion.
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