Hello,
I'm new to working with wood, so I figured I'd start with a basic
project.
I found plans for a radiator cover on the Internet at
http://www.easy2.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_index.asp?page_id=35694140
The corners of the radiator cover (essentially a box) are glued, and
then reinforced with wood screws. I had a teacher from high school shop
class always discouraged us from using fasteners if we could avoid it.
Is wood glue strong enough to hold the corners of the box together
without cutting some kind of a joint? If not, could I use L-fasteners
on the inside to hold it? Any suggestions?
Thanks!!!
--Virgil
Mon, Jan 17, 2005, 12:38pm (EST+5) [email protected]
(Virgil=A0Kent) asks:
<snip> Any suggestions?
Glue blocks.
JOAT
Charity ain't giving people what you wants to give, it's giving people
what they need to get.
- Albert
On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 18:01:51 GMT, B a r r y
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Phisherman wrote:
>> I discourage fasteners too.
>
>Why?
>
>This is trim, not fine furniture.
>
>I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.
>
>Thanks,
>Barry
The downside is that you need to hide the ugly fasteners with plugs,
then the plugs may fall out in time (round plugs do not stay round).
Sometimes metal fasteners rust and discolor wood, although you can use
stainless steel screws. I can understand using fasteners for a
beginner woodworker with few tools, but you gain little in developing
skills in traditional joinery. Other joints to consider include the
miter joint (with glue block for added strength)--compound, biscuited,
splined, keyed, rabbeted, and locked to name a few.
I discourage fasteners too. I'm not sure what tools you have. Do you
have clamps? A corner butt joint needs to be reinforced with glue
blocks, biscuits or fasteners. A rabbet is an improvement but still
may require fasteners. A box joint is much easier to make than a
dovetail joint and is very strong because it have more glue surface
area.
On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:38:47 GMT, Virgil Kent
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I'm new to working with wood, so I figured I'd start with a basic
>project.
>
>I found plans for a radiator cover on the Internet at
>http://www.easy2.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_index.asp?page_id=35694140
>
>The corners of the radiator cover (essentially a box) are glued, and
>then reinforced with wood screws. I had a teacher from high school shop
>class always discouraged us from using fasteners if we could avoid it.
>Is wood glue strong enough to hold the corners of the box together
>without cutting some kind of a joint? If not, could I use L-fasteners
>on the inside to hold it? Any suggestions?
>
>Thanks!!!
>
>--Virgil
Phisherman wrote:
> The downside is that you need to hide the ugly fasteners with plugs,
> then the plugs may fall out in time (round plugs do not stay round).
> Sometimes metal fasteners rust and discolor wood, although you can use
> stainless steel screws. I can understand using fasteners for a
> beginner woodworker with few tools, but you gain little in developing
> skills in traditional joinery. Other joints to consider include the
> miter joint (with glue block for added strength)--compound, biscuited,
> splined, keyed, rabbeted, and locked to name a few.
I can agree with that.
Usually I prefer brads or pocket holes in unseen areas on trim, which
don't require plugging.
I know how to do the other stuff, but I'm always interested in other
views. Radiator covers are pretty extreme duty for wood, and you never
know when somebody's got a better idea.
Thanks!
Barry
"Virgil Kent" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> I had a teacher from high school shop
> class always discouraged us from using fasteners if we could avoid it.
> Is wood glue strong enough to hold the corners of the box together
> without cutting some kind of a joint?
I'd use screws. Drill a 3/8" hold about 3/8" deep, set the screw and then
plug the hole.
Sometimes you need a mechanical fastener. Or a more complex joint.
Virgil Kent wrote:
> The corners of the radiator cover (essentially a box) are glued, and
> then reinforced with wood screws. I had a teacher from high school shop
> class always discouraged us from using fasteners if we could avoid it.
> Is wood glue strong enough to hold the corners of the box together
> without cutting some kind of a joint? If not, could I use L-fasteners
> on the inside to hold it? Any suggestions?
Use screws. Radiator covers continually go from hot to cool and back.
One of the joints is edge to end grain, which probably wouldn't hold at
all without screws under these conditions. "L" brackets probably
wouldn't be a bad idea.
I would probably use pocket holes, like this:
<http://www.kregtool.com/pocket_hole_applications.asp>
The most you'd need is this:
<http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=46271&cat=,46275>
While $60 is a lot for one project, pocket holes are very handy in
finish carpentry. Even if you're only making a few radiator covers,
you'd probably get your money's worth.
Metal fasteners are sometimes discouraged in fine furniture. Using them
in finish carpentry is usually a good idea.
Barry