clamping/ glueing
1/2/19
Website: http://thecabinetmaker.ie
Happy New Year
An upcoming project is a coffee table. Design is basically a box. Top, sides and a bottom ca. 8" under the top. The four corners are 3 inch 1/4 rounds,like one would use on kitchen cabinets. My 'headscratcher' is how to clamp the thing.If the corners were square, no problem, but rounded? Any tips or suggestions much appreciated. Thank you
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1/2/19 #2: clamping/ glueing ...
Seems like a good use for ratchet straps. At least that's what I did with these boat cabinets.
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1/2/19 #3: clamping/ glueing ...
Strap clamps are the way to do it, just as Leo's photo illustrates.
1/2/19 #4: clamping/ glueing ...
Might help to use some temporary blocking inside the box to keep everything square. Also, the style of joinery at the corners is a consideration. Some type of tongue and groove could help maintain alignment during glue-up and provide more glue area for a stronger joint.
1/2/19 #5: clamping/ glueing ...
That's what those wedges on the right side were for. To push the cabinet around for squareness. I was using a slow epoxy for the adhesive, hence the waxed paper.
1/2/19 #6: clamping/ glueing ...
Round over the outside of the corner blocks after the glue up. If you are just going to make one of these, you could even round it over with a hand plane and random orbit sander.
1/4/19 #7: clamping/ glueing ...
I'll throw this alternative out there for consideration if this will be more than a one-off project, or if you clamp miters/bevels on other applications regularly (column wraps, waterfall counters, etc). We have plenty of customers using Lamello P-System connectors to effectively clamp components in any angle. The pics below are from a customer of mine in Wisconsin who glued up this staved-construction chair using Tenso P-14 connectors. They clamp with 35lbs of pressure (plenty for glue squeeze out), so traditional clamps or straps are unnecessary.
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Click the link below to download the file included with this post.
Husk_Chair_2.pdf
Click the link below to download the file included with this post.
Husk_Chair_3.pdf
1/7/19 #8: clamping/ glueing ...
Dear responders
Thanks so much for your suggestions. Seems that for me the straps are the way to go. Will make a test piece tomorrow to see how it comes together. Biscuits for alignment and panels to keep it square. Exciting times ahead.