by Professor Gene Wengert
Q.
Could you suggest some reference material that might explain the proper techniques and practices for gluing White Oak panels on a Taylor Clamp? We are pretty good at making edge-glued panels from Alder and Hemlock cutstock, but we understand White Oak is a totally different animal requiring special procedures and considerations. This is for a commercial manufacturing application. Panels will be used for furniture components and cabinet doors, etc.
A.
I do not have anything specific, but as you may know, the pressure needs to be increased and the surfaces must be perfectly flat and true as there is no room for error when drying such a hard, dense wood. In other words, rip the edges, joint them if required, and glue them within an hour. As oak shrinks much more than alder or hemlock, you will have to be much more certain of the MC too. This subject is discussed in THE WOOD DOCTOR'S RX book which is available from the Robert Byrd Hardwood Technology Center.
Professor Gene Wengert is Extension Specialist in Wood Processing at the Department of Forestry, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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