Loading…
24
Just realized I've been using the wrong glue for my face frames for years
I was putting together a maple face frame last week and noticed a tiny gap after clamping. My buddy Mike came by and asked why I was using regular wood glue instead of a slow-set type. He said, 'That stuff grabs too fast, you can't get a perfect fit.' I switched to Titebond Extend for the next one and the joints closed up tight with no stress. Anyone else have a glue tip that fixed a basic problem?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
luna_craig586mo ago
Mike's advice about slow glue sounds like overkill to me. I've used regular wood glue on maple face frames for a decade with zero gaps. The trick is just to get your clamps on fast and make sure your cuts are right. If you're getting a gap, the glue type is probably not your real problem. Maybe your joint just wasn't cut square enough to begin with? Why fix something that isn't broken?
9
anthonyhunt6mo ago
Yeah, the "get your clamps on fast" method works until it doesn't. A buddy of mine was building cabinets for his kitchen with maple, same as you @luna_craig58, and swore by his quick routine. Then one really humid summer day, he was doing a bigger face frame assembly and the regular glue set up before he could get the last clamp fully tight. Ended up with a hairline gap that drove him nuts. He switched to a slower glue for anything more than a simple joint after that. Sometimes the material and the weather work against you, even with perfect cuts.
5
robinson.jake4mo ago
Haha oh man, the glue vs cuts debate never ends. I've definitely been in that "clamps on fast" panic before and ended up with a weird gap that made me wanna throw the whole project out. But honestly, switching to a slower glue sounds like a solid hack, even if your joints are perfect. Sometimes you just need that extra second to wiggle things into place without the clock ticking. I bet Luna's joints are perfect because he's fast, not because regular glue is magic.
6