wedge strength question

[thetyreman]

I was working on a 3 legged stool earlier, a milk stool, and noticed how the sapele compressed and almost snapped as I was driving it into the top, this is my first project using wedges, and I was surprised at how weak it seemed, am I doing something wrong? the reason I used sapele is mostly for looks, just waiting for it to dry for 24 hours.

any advice for next time I try this?

 

[RobinBHM]

Was your wedge slot big enough? If the wedge is thin to go in a narrow kerf slot it may well snap.

Sapele can have interlocked grain that may not be conducive to hammering, unlike ash or oak.

Nothing more annoying than a wedge snap on you during glue up!

 

[Sean Hellman]

I am too lazy to saw slots for wedges these days and just use a chisel to start a split and as soon as the chisel is pulled from the slot the wedge goes in. I do ream out the hole giving room for the tenon to expand into. I use thin wedges for obvious reasons and they can break. The most common breakage is from not hitting square on top of the wedge. I am gentle at first then get a bit harder. shorter than longer wedges. You know when the wedge is home because the sound changes to a dull thud when fully home.