Looking for opinions on construction of two panels, 50” wide, 80” tall. These will be secured in a residential elevator, forming two of the walls. (The other two faces are “X” style doors that fold out of the way).
The two wood assemblies will be quarter-sawn white oak in the “Shaker” style. That is, 3 stiles from floor to ceiling (6 x 3/4) and 5 rails (5 x 3/4 at top and bottom, 2.5 x 3/4 between). Between the full-length stiles are smaller stiles and between all the rails/stiles are flat panels of 1/4 inch white oak. The rails & stiles will be glued but panels will float.
So essentially there will be wall-sized grids of white oak. But more detail about the way these are secured: I will mill the stiles with 1/4” dadoes on the internal edges. These will accept the panels (no glue) and can accept the glued tongues of the rails. That choice is easiest, but only 1/4” tongue and groove connection.
Or I can make much longer tongues and cut deeper mortises in the stiles. Since I don’t have a drill mortiser, that’s either another purchase or a lot of chisel work.
In cabinets, I’ve had great stability with similar assemblies done in the simpler way. But panel sizes were only 30-40” tall, and had side walls. The elevator panels will be secured to a steel structure. It won’t get the abuse that a door gets, but it’s in an elevator.
Would experienced folks tolerate the 1/4” tongues, or is that courting disaster?