I did it again...lol

[scott vroom]

It's been awhile since I last over did it on applying glue to a tongue and groove joint.....obviously I didn't learn my lesson. Today I was in a hurry (strike one), I cut too much off the tip of my GlueBot (strike two), and proceeded to apply more glue onto a T&G joint than I would syrup onto a stack of pancakes (strike three). When I went to clamp up the joint there was so much excess glue trapped in the groove that I could not apply enough pressure using 3/4" Pony pipe clamps to close the joint, and by the time I gave up trying the wood had swelled sufficiently to prevent the partially closed joint from being pulled apart. Long story short, the tongue is broken off one board and now resides in the groove in the other board. @#$%@#$%@#$%.....I'm a hack.

[Troy Turner]

Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott...

You shoulda known since you were already in a hurry that something was going to happen. I've never once been in a hurry to finish up a project or tried to sneak out before work to glue something up real quick or go out before bed and put that last coat of finish on there...yeah right :D

[mreza Salav]

Worst mistake in a glue up is to do it in a hurry, I am guilty of this mistake but that's when I keep telling myself why didn't I stop earlier!

[scott vroom]

Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott...

You shoulda known since you were already in a hurry that something was going to happen. I've never once been in a hurry to finish up a project or tried to sneak out before work to glue something up real quick or go out before bed and put that last coat of finish on there...yeah right :D

Troy, thanks for the words of encouragement. Learning when to cut your losses and walk away is key to avoiding taking the project out into the yard and building a bonfire....I came very close today. As it is, the QSWO cabinet survived intact and i just need to build another end panel tomorrow. I'm going to start offering my friends Hack-Repellent when they come over in case this is contagious.

[scott vroom]

Worst mistake in a glue up is to do it in a hurry, I am guilty of this mistake but that's when I keep telling myself why didn't I stop earlier!

Mreza, how true!

[Dick Brown]

None of my buddies can say they have ever seen where I have done such a thing!!! Oh, did I tell you I have a wood stove in my shop and sometimes I even use it in hot weather???
Dick

[Peter Quinn]

No sweat. I've done it too, its fixable, and luckily the damage is all blind! Biscuits anyone? Dominos? Once while working on frame and panel wainscot that went floor to ceiling on every wall of an entire house, I had been making parts for days. Rabbits or t&g at every transition, some panels as tall as 9', as wide as 16'. Had to have perfectly consistent stile widths throughout to please picky architect. I'd been cutting parts for days form a list, shaping, doing joinery, raising panels. I got anxious to glue up a panel, so I set up, clamped up, went super smooth, stepped back to admire my work, realized I'd glued the panel in backward in one of three openings. Ooops. Unclamped, got dead blow, hit assembly with hammer and block, nothing doing, got bigger hammer, hit it harder......the glue really is stronger than the wood.:eek:

Its not a mistake until its spent a night in a dumpster one coworker used to say. The best wood workers are the ones who fix their mistakes the fastest and in the least visible manner. My favorite expression, "I haven't seen that many Dutchman since I spent the summer in Amsterdam!", that one is usually said in reference to my work.

[Gordon Eyre]

Before gluing take a deep breath, lay everything out including a small brush, think it through before starting then work quickly but efficiently. It is always wise to have run through a dry run before starting. ;)

[Bill White]

I can't possibly imagine that I would EVER make a mistake. HAHAHAHA.
You should have seen some of my screw-ups. There oughta be an award.
Bill

[Ben Hatcher]

I've yet to cut a mortise and tenon that fits well enough to make too much glue an issue.:rolleyes:

[scott vroom]

Before gluing take a deep breath, lay everything out including a small brush, think it through before starting then work quickly but efficiently. It is always wise to have run through a dry run before starting. ;)

Gordon, good advice. I soldiered on today and cruised through several more end panel attaches. I put the "hack hat" back on the shelf for future use...;)

[Rick Potter]

Two words: Slooooow glue.

Rick Potter

[scott vroom]

Two words: Slooooow glue.

Rick Potter

Hi Rick,

What type of glue do you use? I've been using TB2 on my casework, virtually all tongue and groove joinery. If I'm not real quick I lose the ability to adjust (slide the tongue piece upward or downward in the groove). A slower setting glue would probably help, but I think the bigger problem is the glue causing the wood to swell which in turn causes the joint to freeze up. Lately I've been experimenting with a second pass of the tongue piece on the router, shaving off maybe a 100th of an inch additional.....seems to help but it also slows my productivity.

[Carl Beckett]

I've yet to cut a mortise and tenon that fits well enough to make too much glue an issue.:rolleyes:

Hey Ben - there is always that 'Great stuff' expanding foam......

[frank shic]

if only kreg would invent an invisible pocket screw/hole...

[scott vroom]

if only kreg would invent an invisible pocket screw/hole...

They did, but they cost twice as much and are only available to blind woodworkers :)

[Rick Potter]

Scott,

I have some Titebond III which offers a few more minutes of time. I have been glueing up some kitchen cabs using the T&G this last week, and have been using regular Titebond, thinned 10%. I called them, and they said it was OK to do this. Watch for drips, though.

I had the same problem as you on one joint a year back, but got lucky and pulled it in with clamps.

I read somewhere that regular white glue, like Titebond makes, has a slower set time and is just as strong. I got some from Rockler, but haven't tried it yet.

I also dumped my glue bot, and now use a really cheesy ketchup/mustard bottle I got at the 99 cent store. It's the kind that just has a hole at the top, no sliding thingie. The bottle is so thin and cheap, that it is really easy to squeeze for those long T&G's, and I have gotten pretty good at laying down a very thin line of glue on the tongue parts, then a quick brush with an acid brush.

Rick Potter