Bob Grier
01-13-2016, 10:32 AM
On the face frame in picture, the middle stile is 6 1/2" wide. It is mortise and tendon with glue to rails as well as jack miter for the bead. Last night I set it in place against the box and was planning the runner installation for 2 drawers when all of a sudden I realized how wide the stile is. This scared me because it is fixed so can not expand and contract with humidity changes. The reason it is so wide is because a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" leg will be centered on it which will leave 1 1/2" of the stile exposed each side of the leg. The leg will be notched so it sits under the cabinet with 7/8" thick face of the leg extending up the face of the stile.
If I need to do something to prevent the stile from cracking, I am thinking I can cut the stile vertically 1 5/8" in from each side so the cut runs from top rail to bottom rail. The cuts will be covered on the outside by the leg and the leg will be attached through the center portion of the stile. I was also planning to glue the leg to the stile. If I cut the stile, the leg will only be glued to the center portion of the stile. I would not be cutting the top and bottom portion of the stile (tendon) where it buried in the rail.
The stile on the right side is 3 1/4" wide and connected to the rails with through tendons at top and bottom. It will also have a similarly attached leg with glue and screws. Now I am starting to worry about it too.
Do you think I have a problem and if so do you think the solution I am thinking about solve the problem? Is there a better solution?
The face frame is 7/8" thick and wood is cherry.
Thank you
If I need to do something to prevent the stile from cracking, I am thinking I can cut the stile vertically 1 5/8" in from each side so the cut runs from top rail to bottom rail. The cuts will be covered on the outside by the leg and the leg will be attached through the center portion of the stile. I was also planning to glue the leg to the stile. If I cut the stile, the leg will only be glued to the center portion of the stile. I would not be cutting the top and bottom portion of the stile (tendon) where it buried in the rail.
The stile on the right side is 3 1/4" wide and connected to the rails with through tendons at top and bottom. It will also have a similarly attached leg with glue and screws. Now I am starting to worry about it too.
Do you think I have a problem and if so do you think the solution I am thinking about solve the problem? Is there a better solution?
The face frame is 7/8" thick and wood is cherry.
Thank you