Do you use salt for glue-ups?

I’d take that tip with a grain of salt.

Never tried it but it’s possible it would perform the stated function. A test on scrap before attempting a real joint would be advisable. Personally, I don’t have much problem with boards sliding. I just use multiple clamps and gradually increase the pressure and everything stays put.

-- See my work at http://remmertstudios.com and http://altaredesign.com

I have done it a few times in the past. It does help to keep the two pieces from sliding, but have never really tested a joint to see if there are any adverse effects. Used that trick on a couple Krenov style handplanes I built that needed to keep things very precisely lined up.

-- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Thomas Jefferson

Never used salt. I will use blocking to control any sliding. Once the clamps are tight, the blocking can come out. That or pin nails to control the sliding (if the project allows for pin nails- i.e., you won’t see them when finished).

-- Random Orbital Nailer

I have tried it a couple of times when I had a difficult glue up on angled pieces. It worked surprisingly well. I only added the smallest amount of salt I. I have read this somewhere other than the TV show you mentioned.

-- Julian

Interesting! I never thought of using salt this way. I have often imbeded very short pieces of small straight pins in the to-be-glued surfaces to keep them from sliding while trying to clamp. I may give salt a try.

-- Always remember: It is a mathematical certainty that half the people in this country are below average in intelligence!

I use sand, not salt.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

I’ve tried the cut off pins trick, and heard about the sand, but never heard of using salt.
I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, unless it degraded the glue somehow.

-- "woodworker with an asterisk"

On the rim of a glass while glue dries :)

I do what underdog does because I want to keep my projects on a salt free diet!
I just wonder what effect, if any, this has on the glue itself?

-- "I never met a board I didn't like!"

Try pinch dogs on the ends. Then nothing slips and you don’t have to introduce something that you aren’t sure chemically if they meld well with modern glues. Never had anything wonder when I beat a couple of those things in the end. They’re pretty cheap too! Couple of bucks a piece.

Robert

-- its better to plan on the task at hand than actually doing it........ You look smarter.

I use the 4-way panel clamps to do my big panel glue ups. http://www.rockler.com/4-way-equal-pressure-clamp

I would be really concerned with what the salt would do to the strength of the glue up. A friend of mine always said to use dowels to keep everything aligned. With the strength of modern glue I never really saw the point in dowels.