Hello,

I recently had a first time encounter with raised glue lines on the last two cabinets I built.   The top and side panels are glued  pieces of hard maple. The lumber was from my stock that I had cut in Michigan and air-dried in my barn for about six years there before moving to S.W. Colorado three years ago.  The lumber is now, and has been, stored in my shop and has never been outside.

The pieces were planed slightly thick for glue up (Titebond Glue);  then they were planed and drum sanded to final thickness after drying.  After assembly,  the cabinets were dampened with a cloth to raise the grain and final sanded to a glass smooth surface.  Two coats of Minwax polyurathane were used as the final finish (natural, no stain).

After about three months I noticed that I could feel the glue lines as I rubbed my fingers across them.  They were undetectible when the cabinets were first finished.  There is no separation  in the seams, but I can catch a raised rib  with my fingernail scratching across the seam from either direction.  My procedures were the same as I have used countless times without any problems.

What can be the cause?  Did I overlook something, or do something wrong?  How can I prevent  the problem?  Thank you for any help or advice,  Phooey