Clearance raised panel door

[Greg Sznajdruk]

I’m in the process of building raised panel doors. The panel will be 12 inches wide by 20 inches tall. How much clearance is needed for expansion in the rail and stile?

Greg

[frank shic]

i use 1/8" for clearance so i subtract 1/4" from the vertical and horizontal dimensions. have fun!

[Brian Peters]

Depends on your climate. I go with 1/16" minimum all the way around. 1/8" as frank said is even better.

[Greg Sznajdruk]

Thanks for your response. Since the depth of the grove for the panel is 3/8 at 1/8 on either side will give me a 1/4 play. My shop relative humidity is around 20% so relatively dry this time of year. In the summer humidity can go to 80% with these variables would the panel width exceed 1/4 inch?

Greg

[Darius Ferlas]

Check if this shrinkulator (http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/shrinkulator.htm) is of any help.

[Joe Chritz]

I use half (which is 3/16") times two for the space on a panel. All are set the same since I use spaceballs (.26 size) and a door cutting program to figure sizes.

Joe

[Lee Schierer]

i use 1/8" for clearance so i subtract 1/4" from the vertical and horizontal dimensions. have fun!
You can use less clearance at the grain ends because wood doesn't change much along the length of the grain just cross grain.