Raised Panels: how tight should they fit?

I would think it should fit lose in the rails and stiles. The rails and stiles are the parts that get glue, not the panel.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

The panels should fit into the rails and stiles without pressure but not so loose that they rattle.

-- Best regards, Jack -- I may not be good, but I'm slow -- www.BarnhillWoodworks.com

Just snug but not tight?

It doesn’t take much to go from a bit too tight to way too loose. In principle the spaceballs should keep the panels in place even if the fit is a bit loose.

-- Greg D. -- the price of freedom is tolerance

I would go for looser than a friction fit. Sanding and waxing the
insides of the grooves can help the panel ease in.

You can use “space balls” to leave plenty of room for movement, yet
control rattling. I usually put a single nail through the top and bottom
of the panel at the center. This keeps the panel centered and
mostly controls rattle.

So on the sloppy side? I know how to do sloppy 8-)

The nails are in place of the spaceballs? I don’t see how I could get a nail in that wouldn’t show since both sides of the door are “good” sides.

-- Greg D. -- the price of freedom is tolerance

I’ve used pipe cleaners in place of space balls. Depending upon the thickness, I’ve shot a tiny brad into the center like Loren describes and just hidden it with a dab of putty. I made some panels too snug in my old kitchen. When the weather changed, I could literally hear them clicking and groaning. It was weird, but none of them exploded.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

I sometimes shoot an air nail, but often I’ll drill a hole and put in
a little round-headed brass nail. Looks nice, and a brass nail head
can be set flush with the surface and sanded too – but it does
show to somebody looking close.

^ I would actually prefer that look. Shows the thought. I may try this.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

you can make your own spaceballs using silicone caulk. make little dabs on waxed paper. Cut them with a box knife and you have them. Without clearance you will push the joints apart at the corners. I have always believed in the 1/16” rule. 1/16 in each direction. Loose fit and the space balls keep them from rattling.

they need a little wiggle room on the X and Y dimension and the fit in the groove should be just snug enough that they don’t rattle

-- When the moderator chooses sides, his site sucks.

What Loren says. Too tight and something will break or warp. Space balls, little chunks of scrap foam, ear wax (just kidding) to take up the slop. Those qare too pretty to risk destroying them. Good work.

Steve

-- Steve in KY. 44 years so far with my lovely bride. Think I'll keep her.

Here’s something that’s not intuitively obvious but affects your question: When finish is applied, it will not only make the tongue thicker, it will also make the slot narrower!

So to put it to words the best I can, the panel should fit in effortlessly or slightly easier, but definitely not snuggish.

Thanks for all the recipes for spaceballs!

Kindly,

Lee

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

”ear wax (just kidding) ”

You better be kidding~!! Toe Cheese is the best for this. not ear wax. Ear Wax is for hand planes

-- When the moderator chooses sides, his site sucks.

These doors are simply beautiful. Do it right please…...
CR1 is correct. not too tight, not too loose but just right. I have a friend that was given a large chest with raised panel doors. It was nice but the panels fit tight. the doors were large so there was probably more expansion. This was a gift his mother-in-law had built for them. Evrytime they went home they carried a different door to have the corners repaired on the stiles and rails. It was a sad deal but the panels weren’t right. I think there should be a formula for larger or smaller doors.

Thanks for the comments.

I picked out two of the best panels just for some eye candy. Waterlox is great stuff. The grain that I ended up with was dumb luck. Never made bookmatched panels before. Never made any sort of frame-and-panel door before either, for that matter.

I’m planning on widening the groves for the panels so they aren’t too tight. If some panels then fit too loose I’ll put tape on the back side to snug those up. I’m also planning on using Spaceballs.

I followed the instructions that came with my Amana stile and rail bits: slots for the panels 1/2” deep, and panel dimensions 3/4” larger than the panel opening.

-- Greg D. -- the price of freedom is tolerance