How do you glue up panels

You should be able to easily glue up 3/8” thick material. Make sure you stock is milled perfectly straight and the seam fits with no gaps. Guitar makers glue up much thinner stock all the time with great success.

What kind of glue did you use?

-- She thought I hung the moon--now she just thinks I did it wrong

Titebond original wood glue. The only thing I can think of is that maybe I didn’t mill them perfectly straight. But that’s why I’m asking, just to see if there is a step I’m missing.

-- Josh, South Jordan Utah

We might be able to give you a better diagnosis if you can clarify what you mean by “pressure on the outsides” and “didn’t hold so well”.

-- My broker promised me he would treat my money as if it were his own. Trouble is, he did.

A thickness of 3/8” shouldn’t be a problem for a glued up panel. Your edges must be flat and mate together without gaps – this should be checked as a dry fit while applying some clamping pressure. With fresh titebond glue the resulting bond should be strong with even thinner material. Did you get some glue squeeze out when you applied clamping pressure?

Tom

-- East Side of Big D

pressure on the outside would mean I held the panel in my hands and gave it a little bend. The panel was only 10” across but had about 7 pieces glued together to make that 10”

didn’t hold so well means that I could visibly see where two of the pieces were coming apart. Like there wasn’t enough glue holding them together but I’m almost sure there was because I can see where I wiped off squeeze out.

-- Josh, South Jordan Utah

Okay, wood is inherently weak in bending that direction (notice how karate board breakers hold their boards), but it does sound like you had gaps. If it’s only between those 2 pieces, you can rip the panel apart at that seam and glue up the 2 halves again.

-- My broker promised me he would treat my money as if it were his own. Trouble is, he did.

if glued properly then the glued joint is stronger than the wood itself, has the panel broken exactly where it was glued?
when i resaw a glued panel to size i test the strength by trying to break to cutoffs, they usually snap close to the joint, but not exactly the joint itself unless there wasn’t enough glue

Be sure to alternate the growth rings then you should be able to put the 2 or 3 pieces together without any pressure to be sure you have a good straight glue line with no gaps. Then glue your edges and clamp together with enough pressure for a even amount of squeeze out along the joint. Make sure your glue is fresh and not out dated as well. After they dry remove clamps and scrape off excess glue. Thats what I do and have had no problems.

-- I don't make mistakes, I have great learning lessons, Greg