[jargo432]

Goto 20:39 to see what I'm talking about


I'm to the point of putting on the top for my chest of drawers. Norm Abram says to put the screws in the middle in like usual but to ream out the hole in the frames that the screw goes through in the front and back to allow for wood movement. What I'm wondering is, won't the head of the screw go into the reamed out hole and bind up? Is there a better way to put the top on to allow wood movement?

 

[Steve Neul]

It looks like good advise to me. I would use pan head screws with washers and the ones on the front and back not torque them down too tight. That way it would allow for the movement.

 

[BernieL]

Understand that wood only moves across the grain - that being said, yes do allow the fasteners to float. Another point worth noting is that if you are using the same width and same species of wood, both sides and top will move in unison.

 

[cabinetman]

Norm Abram says to put the screws in the middle in like usual but to ream out the hole in the frames that the screw goes through in the front and back to allow for wood movement. What I'm wondering is, won't the head of the screw go into the reamed out hole and bind up? Is there a better way to put the top on to allow wood movement?

It looked like to me that Norm drove that screw in the front in tight. If he did that it would make the sections of the top captive if the center screw on the sides were tight.

The holes should be elongated, not just "reamed out". On the sides of the cabinet, the center screw can be tight on both sides. The ones front and back should have elongated holes. Along the front and back edges, the elongated holes should be perpendicular to the top.

Washer head or pan head screws with washers can be used. This procedure applies for a solid wood, or glued up sections of solid wood for the top. not for plywood tops.

.

 

[jargo432]

Thanks for all the help. While were on the subject, Does plywood and MDF expand and contract like solid wood?

 

[cabinetman]

Thanks for all the help. While were on the subject, Does plywood and MDF expand and contract like solid wood?

The short answer is no they don't. If they do, it would be relatively immeasurable.

.

 

[Steve Neul]

I'm surprised someone hasn't commented on Norms backward made panel cutter. I don't see how he can keep control of it. It's at least dangerous. There isn't much difference between that and freehand cutting.