Best way to address a butt joint

[mgbbob]

Hi folks, Working on a sliding shelf for a stereo cabinet. The shelf will be 3/4" plywood L'd into a piece of 3/4" x 1 1/2" pine stock. The completed shelf will hold a 65 lb stereo receiver and move in and out on 80 lb rated roller glides. Where the plywood and pine stock join I am considering reinforcing the joint with biscuits or using pocket holes. Any thoughts? I also considered and continuous spline. Thanks, Bob

[roy_okc]

I've used dowels plus glue the entire length in a similar situation of attaching a 5'+ face trim piece on a tall bookcase. Dowels simply because I have a wonderful dowel jig already, didn't want to rely simply on clamping to align the two pieces, and pocket holes would have been visible if looking hard enough. If you already have a biscuit tool or pocket hole jig, either of those should work just fine and with good glue provide plenty of strength.

[reible]

A trick I picked up from Norm (attaching face frames) that I have been using for similar projects was to actually cut a kerf the length of the project. He used a router with slot cutter, I have since reversed his process and started cutting a kerf in the thin strip(face frame) with a 5/32 blade (infinity tools). Either way seems to work. If exposed you will need to make a stop cut so you don't see the kerf.........


The depth is standard for what ever biscuit size you use. The the plywood or wider board gets the pockets the way I do it. You add the biscuits to the pockets and then the kerf works for the other part of the joint.

If you want to read about it:

http://www.finewoodworking.com/2007/12/ ... norm-abram

Ed

[videobear]

So, the pine is going to be the front edge of the shelf? I constructed an equipment rack years ago using this approach...gluing a pine edging strip along the front edge of plywood, both the cabinet sides and the fixed and variable shelves. I didn't use any reinforcement, just a simple glued butt joint. The piece proved extremely durable and I never had any issues with the edging separating from the plywood parts. The only issue I had was with matching the edges up in the first place...dimension lumber and plywood are slightly different thicknesses, and aggressive sanding of the shelf face can cause you to sand right through the top ply veneer.

[masonsailor2]

You won’t need to reinforce that particular joint. Just gluing and clamping will suffice. The glue joint will exceed the strength of the material itself. Just get a nice spread on the glue so the joint is completely glued.
Paul

[algale]

The best way to address a butt joint is “Dear Butt Joint”....

Couldn’t resist.

[moggymatt]

The best way to address a butt joint is “Dear Butt Joint”....

Couldn’t resist.

Was wondering who was going to be the 1st.

[newportcycle]

I would agree that simple glue joint will be sufficient.

I've attached a link to a very interesting youtube on making glue joints, thought folks here would find it interesting.

https://youtu.be/dK8daE-tZSM

[bigmoguls]

I would agree that simple glue joint will be sufficient.

I've attached a link to a very interesting youtube on making glue joints, thought folks here would find it interesting.

https://youtu.be/dK8daE-tZSM

Thank you for sharing.

[mgbbob]

I watched the video and learned much. Needless to say I just butt glued the joints and all worked well.