Return to The Show Page

Submitted by Darrell Stimson (Martinez, CA)
as an interesting email question received from
his website: http://www.awoodwizard.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello,

I hope you do not mind my emailing you, as I do not want
to make a small problem worse, since I am only a carpenter,
and not a skilled wood finisher.

I am emailing you for your opinion on a glue joint involving hard maple.
I built a countertop out of 3/4" hard maple, edge jointed all sides, and
glued and clamped. I kept the wood inside my home for over 2 years
to eliminate any problems with proper moisture content. Wood was
kiln dried and distressed prior to 2 year acclimation in my home.

I have included 3 photos of one section of glue joint which has opened
slightly. It is approximately 8" in length. I believe it opened from an
electric coffee pot being used without proper heat protection, resulting
in weakening of glue joint. I used Titebond Yellow glue for edge jointing,
but did not use waterproof type. It has been 5 years since installation,
and this joint separation started about 2 years ago. No other problems,
and all joints are tight, including miter joint at inside corner.

I have tried to "repair" this very slight separation, but have had no luck.
My previous attempts involved sanding the separation and evening up
joint. I used waterproof titebond glue as a binding agent with some fine
sawdust, but as you can see from photo, it has separated again, very
slightly, causing a very slight uneven joint with a very dark line at point
of separation. The separation is so slight, yet very noticeable.
I cannot get any glue into this joint, and it appears that any similar
attempts at "sanding and filling" will probably have same results.

Any ideas how to fix this problem permanently?

Maybe a different type of bonding glue?
Maybe using a Dutchman type of fix?
(Although this may stick out like a sore thumb.)

Would my best approach be to enlarge the joint with a power saw,
(kerf very carefully), and then fill in with some appropriate repair product?
I have no knowledge how to do this,
but I do have scrap pieces to practice on.

My last attempt at repairing this involved removing all marine varnish,
filling in separation with yellow glue and sanding residue until very
smooth, and re-varnishing. I believe the joint is now unstable, and
will need to be filled in more extensively with a good type of glue
to re-stabilize the separation. I do not think it will separate and
further in length, as I put bisquits every 9" along all edges.
This is just about the length of separation now,
and has not gotten any longer

Appreciate your time and help,

Regards,

Greg Brophey
OHIO