Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Apr 09, 2004 09:28pm | #1

   Can you cut the grooves deeper?

2. 
   tsproul | Apr 10, 2004 12:25am | #2

   Sean,

   you said, "  I did not want to compress the space ball at all so I would still have room for wood movement."

   why?

   you do realize wood movement goes both ways....expands and shrinks. This is the "art" part of the art and science behind wood movement.....you have to be able to judge the state the wood is at when you are constructing versus what it will experience in use.

   That is, if you are constructing in a non-climate controlled shop in the Louisiana Bayou in the middle of summer, you're best to assume the wood will shrink much more than expand in the future....therefore you're best off to make everything on the tighter side. On the flip-side, if you're constructing something and your shop is heated but not humidified and you're in the dead of winter in Alaska, you're best to assume the wood will expand much more than shrink during use......get it?

   Tim
1. 
   trebark | Apr 12, 2004 05:13pm | #12

   Everyone Thank You for your comments. I think I will scrap the space ball and size the panel correctly mark the centerpoint on the panel and the rail go for a snug but not tight fit and a dab of glue in the center of each rail.

   Thanks for the Great advise

   Sean

3. 
   darbywoods | Apr 10, 2004 12:54am | #3

   use them, love them.  they are made to expand and contract like wood to keep the pannel from rocking in the dato.

   david

   http://www.darbynwoods.com

4. 
   patternmaker | Apr 10, 2004 11:10pm | #4

   On doors with raised panels.I make the length of the panel just a tad shorter than the space that it will occupy in the assembly. The width I make about 3/16"narrower than the diminsion from side to side inside the stile grooves. Since wood movement need not be allowed in the length,I put a spot of glue on the center line of the rail panel groove,and assemble the panel centered in the frame.Any movement in the width now will occur equally on each side of the center line. No balls required.I use the same method to install solid wood bottoms in my blanket chests. Work Safely

   ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

1. 
   UncleDunc | Apr 11, 2004 12:33am | #5

   Chris Becksvoort sometimes uses pegs to keep the panels centered. I couldn't find any examples on his web site, but I've seen them in FWW.

   http://www.chbecksvoort.com/welcome.html

1. 
   Dave45 | Apr 11, 2004 12:35am | #6

   Round toothpicks work too and they're really cheap. - lol

2. 
   patternmaker | Apr 11, 2004 01:04am | #7

   I have seen these balls made from rubber in some of the catalogs.When I looked just now, I could not find them. I do no longer do production work,so if it takes me a little longer,no big deal.

   What I like about the forum is that no matter how long you have been doing woodwork,even a novice may have an idea that we find useful.

   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

5. 
   Blueline | Apr 11, 2004 07:35am | #8

        Just my two cents, the marketing exec's/advertising company number one rule is create a need for something so the masses believe they need it/them. Good example "space balls", for decades fellow cabinet makers have done well without them. Save your money, it could be safe to assume that they have been put to use where a woodworker wanted to eliminate rattling in the door being constructed. This problem is easily done away with altogether with proper fit (see snug not tight) between the panels tongue and the frames grooves. Just a thought or two. 

6. 
   plptlindwmy | Apr 11, 2004 09:34pm | #9

   trebark,just made 30 doors and was going to use those things till i checked the sizeof them.I think you would be better off sizing  your panels .25 less in width and .125 less in height and trying screen spline(the grey rope-like stuff they sell at hardware stores).They have just enough give from side to side.I ,like other people have mentioned,dont bother with lengthwise movement but i do pay attention to the weather and prefinish before assy.g

7. 
   lynnroy | Apr 12, 2004 12:12am | #10

   Hi Tre

   I tried them and found them hard to use when I needed them. I have also heard of using pieced of cork. I have some but do not plan to use them again after reading the replies to you post.

   Lynn

8. 
   Miami | Apr 12, 2004 01:19am | #11

   No thoughts on the merits of space balls, but whether your 1/8 all around will be enough depends, as said, on where the wood 'is' now - if it's at one dryness extreme or the other, the 1/4 total might not be enough, if it's close to the middle and the panels aren't over 12" wide or so, your 1/8 all around should be OK - how wide are these panels, and what wood?  Those factors matter a lot ...

   Clay