I am making a number of shaker style frame and panel doors for a kitchen. I saw an add for “spaceballs” to center the panels. I was wondering if anyone had experience with this product and how effective it is on maintaining the pannels centered in the rails and styles.
Thanks
Replies
They work perfect. Great invention and worth the money. Added benefit is they eliminate rattles in any door with a loose panel.
Hi Gear ,
Most Shaker style doors have flat or recessed panels typically veneer if not paint grade . With a veneer panel you will have insignificant or no movement or warpage in the panel , so keeping it perfectly centered could be overkill .
I make veneer panels an 1/8" shy of the rail width . Imo any rattle comes from the panel being thinner then the groove , not because there are no space balls . I shoot a few 5/8" pins between the back of the panel and the groove without actually penetrating the panel . This has worked well to keep the panel centered and tight to the face of the front side of the door and eliminates any and all rattle .
I have done this on literally thousands of frame and panel doors with zero failures .
good luck dusty
If they're veneer panels, why not glue them in place, and dispense with the nails?
Hi Barry ,
In theory panels of any type should never be glued in the frame .
While it's true the glue will hold the panel still , it will do little to keep the panel tight to the face of the groove , and to me that is the part you see first .
The stiles can still move somewhat and the floating panel helps to ensure the frame stays flat , even plywood has some mc , although low it does exist .
dusty
"The part you see first , do the best"
Edited 2/8/2007 12:05 am ET by oldusty
In theory panels of any type should never be glued in the frame ...
The stiles can still move somewhat and the floating panel helps to ensure frame stays flat , even plywood has some mc , although low it does exist .
Well this is an interesting question (to me, more than the issue of whether or not to use "spaceballs").
What to others think? "conventional wisdom" is that plywood doesn't move. And stiles may move horizontally, but they shouldn't move vertically, so this shouldn't afffect whether or not you glue the panel.
Gluing a plywood panel in place would greatly increase the racking resistance and strength of the panel, in applications where that would matter (e.g., as a carcass side, not as a door panel).
Comments?
I often do glue my panels in the frames. I do it on plywood and solid wood. BUT... I only put a dab of glue in the center of the rails.. None on the styles. I only glue about a half an inch of the center of the rail where it meets the panel. This way the panel doesn't rattle, and any wood movement is equalized on both sides of the panel. I think this reduces the chance of unfinished wood at the edge of the panel being exposed when the wood shrinks. I 've been doing this method for about 10 years. No panel has cracked yet. Space balls help keep the panel centered..I think my glue method ensures the panel stays centered.
I know this is a violation of the most basic rules of WW...But it has worked for me.. You can tear into me know...
Man, I'm just not seeing any connection here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceballs
Try this one: ;)
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2020
oldusty
I would pin the pack if I was using plywood panels but I am using resawn bookmatched walnut for the center panels. Have you ever used a brad from the back centered in the top and bottom rail with solid wood panels?
Thanks for the reply!
Gear
Hey Gear , Yes , even with wood panels a few pins on the backside will do wonders . Depending on the width of the panel use 1 , 2 or more pins all the way around . If done right they can barely be seen .
good luck dusty
I have used spaceballs and find them to work well. I mill the panels 1/2" under and place two spaceballs on each side.
gear,
I make my own outta old mouse pads....
You can acheive similar, and more adjustable, results by running a few beads of silicone caulk on some wax paper -- the width of the bead depends on how big you want your spacer. When it's dry, peel it up from the paper and snip it off in about 1/4" lengths to use as spacers.
Mike Hennessy
Pitsburgh, PA
That's a great idea...........********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
"That's a great idea..........."
Thanks. But it ain't mine. I think I saw it in FWW years ago. ; -)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
But it's still a great idea, and you get kudos for passing it along <G>.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I love it! A cheapskate (and that is good) after my own heart. Not to mention more variety and flexibility.
Thanks!
have you priced caulk lately? it aint that cheap! still, i see your point and it is a great idea!
Thanks for the great tip!
Gear
I would rather make furniture or cabinets rather than make my own space balls. We use them whenever we make a panel door with rails and stiles. If you buy from Rockler they are about $0.05 each when purchasing 100. If you buy from the manufacture in lots of 1000, they are $0.025 per each. My time in the shop is precious to me. I would rather be working on wood in my shop.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled