Tongue and Groove Question

[Andy Kev.]

Evenin' All,

I'm about to put the bottom on my toolbox and the pieces of wood are 7/8" thick. What's the best size for the tongues and grooves: 3/8" or 1/4"? Or does it not really matter too much?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Racers]

How about a half lap that way you would have the maximum strength and only one setup.

Pete

 

[AndyT]

The normal proportion, as for a mortice and tenon, would be a third of the thickness, so in your case 1/4" would be a better choice than 3/8", which would leave the wood beside the groove a bit thin.

 

[Andy Kev.]

Thanks for the replies. I rejigged my Veritas plough plane with the kit that lets it do T & G and cut a fairly satisfactory 1/4" tongue which worked out pretty well, so I've left the plane set up as it is to do the other tongues. Then it is just a matter of cutting the grooves referenced off the tongues.

Pete, thanks for the idea (which I hadn't thought of). I like the sound of it and will save it for another job as I specifically want to get T & G under my belt.

 

[Racers]

I used it on a gate where I didn't want gaps due to shrinkage, I did use a spindle moulder, but the process is the same, rebate on diagonally opposite faces.

Pete