Cross grain construction in boxes

[DTR]

Mornin' all,

I was passing some time watching Paul Sellers make a dovetail box on youtube ( >>video here<< ). I found it curious that he simply glues the bottom on despite it being cross grain construction. It must work for him as he's made a lot of boxes like this.

What are your opinions on this?

 

[marcros]

as you say, it must work, but I personally would have had it floating in a grove for a bit of movement.

 

[Jacob]

Mornin' all,

I was passing some time watching Paul Sellers make a dovetail box on youtube ( >>video here<< ). I found it curious that he simply glues the bottom on despite it being cross grain construction. It must work for him as he's made a lot of boxes like this.

What are your opinions on this?

Many millions of boxes have been made in the same way. Some glued all round with plain butted joints. Small box so any differential movement will also be small if it's kept inside and not exposed to high humidity etc.

Floating groove quite difficult to achieve in a small box - you end up having to put in drawer type slips and you have vulnerable thin details.

 

[AndyT]

Like Jacob said - small pieces so the actual max movement is less than the 'creep' of the glue. For a bigger box you could use the same construction and nail the bottom on - nails can give a bit if they need to and bend within the wood.

I know Paul Sellers works in the UK and US but my impression is that they have a bigger difference between summer and winter humidity than we do - which must be why US makers stress seasonal movement so much. Sometimes we can ignore it; sometimes everyone can.

 

[Jacob]

.... Sometimes we can ignore it; sometimes everyone can.

Sometimes a good idea to put in a few nails/pins as well as glue.
NB thin box sides best predrilled if you are going to nail.

 

[CHJ]

....I found it curious that he simply glues the bottom on despite it being cross grain construction. ..What are your opinions on this?

I think a lot depends upon the moisture levels of the wood before you start, I find that as long as it's below 8% at glue up time I've got away with it so far. A high percentage of my joints are the less than ideal end grain variety and are in effect just butt joints.

Although most of my boxes are smaller than the rectangular ones you are talking about the bowls I construct of segments are a much bigger.

All down to the wonders of modern adhesives I suspect.

 

[DTR]

Thanks guys