Replies

1. 
   InfantTree | Dec 29, 2003 09:59pm | #1

   Hi,  I don't a specific Yes/No answer to your question but I do have a thought or two.  It sounds as though you've got a good knowledge of wood so you've probably already thought of these options...but here goes anyway.

   Options:

   1.  Make a small test glue-up and let it sit an a variety of humdidty and temperatures.

   2.  Take a piece of both approx. 3/8" x 6" x 1 or 2" and fasten one side of each to a scrap of plywood and observe their expanion and contraction in comparison to one another for a while. 

   3.  Allow them to float using counter-bored screws from the back with plugs instead of gluing them.  This would be time comsuming and a bit uglier what with the plugs and all, but it would work as long as you had enough meat to bite into on the front board given the need for such a tiny screw. Yes...kind of a hackers approach but it popped into my head.

   Take care and good luck.

   Chad

2. 
   JohnWW | Dec 29, 2003 10:48pm | #2

   R13,

   The glue up you are contemplating will have at least as much movement as a panel of solid wood of a single species and will never be especially stable.  The door will probably twist and will change in width from dry weather to moist.  

   Although they are appealing from a design standpoint, solid unframed doors are almost always trouble in practice.  If memory serves, Krenov style doors were laminated from thin veneers, they were shop made plywood basically, to achieve stability. 

   There are several other ways of making solid looking doors that stay stable, but they all involve a fair amount of work.  The techniques are used because cabinetmakers have learned over the years that simple panels just don't perform well.

   John W.

3. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 30, 2003 01:21am | #3

   Krenov would simply ask the wood and wait for it to answer.  How long have you been waiting? :)

   Is the curly maple for stylistic or econmomic (stock on hand) reasons?  Curly maple isn't the most stable choice for a substrate.  Laminations are usually done in odd numbers, presummably to yield a more balanced panel.  The obvious choice would be to use more walnut, but if you're really want the curly maple interior, then make it veneer.  Maybe resaw the walnut and the maple for 1/8" face veneers and use a core of 1/2" mdf or plywood for stability.

   John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

1. 
   migraine | Dec 30, 2003 03:48am | #4

   "Krenov would simply ask the wood and wait for it to answer.  How long have you been waiting"

   Now, that was funny