I’ve posted this question before with no response so I’ll try it again without the specifics. I live in Japan and there is a tree here called “Keiyaki”. I’ve asked many people about using this wood as panels in framed doors. I’m always told an emphatic “NO!” The explanation is it will be too unstable.
But…the tradition with panels (except with thin panels in tonsu) here is minimal. The question is, will any wood work as panels even a wood that is notorious for its movement?
Thank you in advance.
Replies
I've never heard of "Keiyaki", but I have a fair amount of experience with frame and panel construction, so I'll take a shot at your question.
You have two concerns with frame and panel construction. The first is simple linear expansion/contraction of the panel with changes in temperature and humidty. Since wood typically does most of it's expansion/contraction perpendicular to the grain, this is relatively easy to handle by sizing the panel width so it can move in the frame without trying to push it apart. I usually put a bit of glue in the center of the upper and lower rails to keep the panel centered but still allow the edges to move.
The second problem would be panels that twist, warp, and/or cup. Stress ALWAYS relieves itself eventually. Frame rails and stiles resist the twisting, warping and cupping, but only up to a point. If there is enough one time stress, something is gonna give right now. Go through enough stress cycles and something will eventually give. A rail & stile joint may open, the panel may split, or both may happen.
Conventional wisdom says to make solid wood panels in strips with the growth rings alternated up and down when glued up. The theory is that the forces trying to twist, warp or cup the wood will be cancelled because the growth rings are opposed. I've never seen this proven, but have been doing it for years and I can't remember the last time I had a frame and panel failure.
I know I haven't answered your specific question, but maybe this theoretical discussion helps a little. You might also try making up a frame and panel with Keiyaki and see how it acts over several months.
Dave has sewn it up.If appearance is not an issue then I would follow his advice and make up a trial frame and panel.Make sure you record how much allowance you gave for expansion in the grooves, and observe how it machines when you mould the edges.Maybe you should glue up several panels of suitable size for a frame and panel construction , stack them with air gaps, and see if they turn into propellors or worse....and how long it takes for them to do that....You may be able to get them into a frame before warping takes place, then the question is to see if that wood can be restrained in a frame. I would also leave it unpolished-you could try that on a several test pieces.
Why are you keen on this Keiyaki stuff? Hopefully it is of great beauty-and you are not motivated by it's (cheap) price? One usually gets wot one pays for....
Hope this ramble helps.
I've used panels in just about every prject I've built... most of them made from elm which by all accounts will move every which way if given a chance. I've yet to see a failure despite hge swings in temp and humidity here... Personally I'd go for it; the worst it can do is fail on you.. If so, you've learned a lesson, if not, you've created something that's unusual and pretty unique...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Thank you for all your responses, I'm going to give it a go and see what happens.
pqken
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