Floating panels

[SteveF]

I may regret this
how do you stop a solid wood floating panel from rattling?
I obviously need the groove snug and a gap all round for expansion
but am concerned if it shrinks to much it will just slide around in its hole

Steve

 

[custard]

You don't.

Cut it reasonably snug and it's not a problem though. The bigger issue is if you finish the piece after assembly and the panel then shrinks to reveal an unfinished section, they're called "grins" in the trade. So finish the panels before assembly.

 

[lanemaux]

Cannot remember where I heard this , but I seem to recall someone using little foam rubber balls between the frame and panels to address just this sort of issue. Might be worth scouting about for some. If I recall correctly the balls were supposed fit snugly in the frame and be soft enough to allow for expansion. Wish I could remember more, and hope this helps.

 

[LeeElms]

'Space balls', but can't quickly locate a UK source https://www.amazon.com/Space-Balls-Bag-of-100/dp/B0006LA198

 

[custard]

In many parts of the world, most notably the Eastern coast of the US, they get far bigger seasonal movement problems than we do in our constantly damp little island. Consequently they try all sorts of solutions, I've heard of American furniture makers packing rebates with string as a flexible panel wadding. But if you dimension your components reasonably accurately then it's really not necessary for British furniture.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

As custard said, pre-finishing the panel is the normal or standard procedure so that unfinished edges don't show later, plus make the panel a reasonably snug fit.

But if you must fix the panel, three methods are commonly espoused.

1. Space balls, already mentioned by others.
2. Put a blob of glue at the centre point of the grooves that take the end grain of the panel.
3. Drive a brad or pin at an angle through the panel at the centre point of the ends into the framework.

All three are time consuming and fiddly which only adds to the stress factor that can occur during glue-ups, especially more complex ones involving three or four panels and framing. One solution to matching the centre of the panel with the groove at either end in 2 and 3 above is a bit of masking tape on both the panel and the framework with a pencil marks that need to be lined up during the glue-up.

And to finish, to answer the question you might have of whether I use methods 1, 2 or 3, the answer is no, unless I happen to be in a situation where someone I'm working for insists I use one of them. I can do without the time wasting boogering about during a glue-up, and prefer the standard pre-finish panels technique prior to assembly method. Slainte.

 

[SteveF]

I never thought of fre-finish so was not a wasted question
I have ordered a grooving cutter slightly undersized so I can creep up on the fit
I never had a router bit small enough so will be a handy item to own
many thanks all

Steve

 

[woodbrains]

In many parts of the world, most notably the Eastern coast of the US, they get far bigger seasonal movement problems than we do in our constantly damp little island. Consequently they try all sorts of solutions, I've heard of American furniture makers packing rebates with string as a flexible panel wadding. But if you dimension your components reasonably accurately then it's really not necessary for British furniture.

Hello,

I went to college in America, and space balls were ridiculed there, an absolute no no! Panels should fit snugly with no rattling and were rigourously tested by the tutors. Even in quite high humidity swings, the narrow groove and the tongue of the panel shouldn't change enough to cause a rattle, if they fit well enough when made up. In my experience, only panels which have tapered tongues tend to rattle when the panel shrinks, so avoid that technique at all costs. (It is surprising how many people make panels like that in American craft books and magazines, it's madness)

I don't know what the tendancy is for snug fitting panels to become off centre over time, I suspect unlikely, but it is not much extra work to drill a small hole at the centre top and bottom and insert a bamboo skewer to keep the panel fixed in its groove here. It can be done from the back only if it is not wanted to show on the face, and is a bit nicer than a panel pin and less fraught than glueing at the centre during assembly.

Mike.