Face Frame Question

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moggymatt
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Face Frame Question

Post by moggymatt »

For all you cabinet builders out there. Is glue alone good enough for a face frame that will not have a door hung on it?
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JPG
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Re: Face Frame Question

Post by JPG »

If not, epoxy would!(according to the master ship builder).
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wa2crk
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Re: Face Frame Question

Post by wa2crk »

I would reinforce the joints with a biscuit or some other mechanical device. A butt joint relies on end grain and a half lap has a cross grain glue joint problem. Both are possible compromises. But the width of the stiles and rails would offset some of that. Pocket screws are another method of securing the joints.
Bill V
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wa2crk
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Re: Face Frame Question

Post by wa2crk »

I would reinforce the joints with a biscuit or some other mechanical device. A butt joint relies on end grain and a half lap has a cross grain glue joint problem. Both are possible compromises. But the width of the stiles and rails would offset some of that. Pocket screws are another method of securing the joints.
Bill V
PS My kitchen cabinets have the joints reinforced with pocket screws. The stiles are secured to the cabinet sides with shallow dado joints.
charlese
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Re: Face Frame Question

Post by charlese »

moggymatt wrote:For all you cabinet builders out there. Is glue alone good enough for a face frame that will not have a door hung on it?
Your question got me to thinking back to the first face frames I ever made. Didn't know what to do, or how to go about it. :confused:

I doweled the rails to the stiles and glued the frames to the cabinets. To hold the frames while the glue cured, I nailed through the frames. Later removing the nails and filling the small holes.

I attached doors to the frames and the result was - success! :D The frames and doors held up for 5 years, until we moved.
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benush26
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Re: Face Frame Question

Post by benush26 »

moggymatt wrote:For all you cabinet builders out there. Is glue alone good enough for a face frame that will not have a door hung on it?
Probably, however with the temperature and humidity extremes of Spokane would it not be more prudent to use "as Bill V suggested" a mechanical backup system like pocket screws or biscuits? Or dowels via Charlese.
Questions might be
Where is the project going to call home?
If the butt seam does come apart, what is the significance if any?
What is YOUR time allocated to do this project and is there time to do more than just glue it?

My guess is you have already answered these questions.

Be well,
Ben
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