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Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

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Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

#1

Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

Darin in Victoria

>I am constructing a shoulder vise for my workbench and have some hard maple that I was thinking about using to attach the vise front shoulder to the workbench side endcap. European face vise design ala Frank Klauz style workbench. The end cap that it will attach onto is made of soft maple. Both pieces are 3.25" x 4" in width and height and I'm attaching the two pieces via a 3" dovetail. There are also two 3/8" threaded rods securing the front portion to the bench. Sorry, I'm still constructing the top and don't have any pictures to show how everything fits together.

Does anyone have any opinions on whether I will have a problem with the different wood movements?

My backup plan is to construct the whole structure out of soft maple (no, I don't have enough hard maple to replace the endcap already though of that one :()

Re: Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

#2

Re: Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>Darin -

No problem I can see. Different species are routinely used in dovetail joints. For instance, drawers might have a premium wood face (walnut, cherry, mahogany) dovetailed to more common (poplar, soft maple) sides.

Ed

Re: Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

#3

I agree, no problem Darin.

HC Sakman

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Re: Mixing Soft and Hard Maple on a Dovetail

#4

Thanks guys. I'll go with it!

Darin in Victoria

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