WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Is there a way to prevent this splitting at the corner?

Posts

Is there a way to prevent this splitting at the corner?

#1

admin

The following is from r/woodworking which got LOTS of different answers. Since WC has always catered to experienced woodworkers, I'm curious as to what ya'll would suggest. Ignore if not interested, or respond if you enjoy sharing your knowledge on such things. 

I cut and glued this up a couple days ago. The 4 border pieces fit perfectly in a dry fit. Glued up with titebond 3 and clamped overnight. Next day unclamped and saw the large split at one corner and the others are slightly opened too but this corner was the worst. Used biscuits to align to the inner square. All Sapele (African mahogany.
I plan to trim off the 2” border pieces and try again but looking for suggestions for glue up and whether to use biscuits, dominoes, or something else. Possibly cut a tongue & groove between the inner and the border pieces…? TIA


4wulf4muzerb1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3d9c70352554a653e58576df24ab05618bf80c0

Re: Is there a way to prevent this splitting at the corner?

#2

Scratching my head on this one. Wood doesn't shrink appreciably with the grain. It looks like the panel may have increased in moisture content and swelled and pushed the joint apart. Also, could the wood end grain have absorbed enough glue that there was none left in the joint. Was the wood excessively dry when you started? I don't think re gluing is going to solve anything.

Re: Is there a way to prevent this splitting at the corner?

#3

Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio

Looks like the panel has expanded and pushed the miters apart.  It's a pretty common problem when mitered framing is used like that.  A better alternative would've been breadboard ends on the panel.

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.