To Glue or Not to Glue

**daryl@kit-chens** · 31st July 2021, 10:22 PM

Hi folks. I have 2 questions regarding a Blackwood desk top I’m making. It’s 2400 x 550. It is made up with a 26mm thick solid Blackwood top sheet and a sheet of 17mm Blackwood veneered MDF underneath to build up the thickness. I’ve edged the MDF with Blackwood. I will be using 2-Pak lacquers to finish the desk top.

I have 2 questions.

Should I seal coat the under side of the solid timber and the MDF before joining them? I’ve always had the belief whatever you finish or seal one side with Ayou do the same on the other side. However, given these two boards will be getting joined, I wasn’t sure if it was still necessary or not.
Given the underside is a sheet of MDF (so very little movement) and the topside is 4 pieces of Blackwood glued together (so typical movement), should I glue and screw them together or just screw them together to allow the natural movement to happen?

I’ll be very interested to hear the opinions of others who may have done something similar previously.

Thanks Daryl.

**elanjacobs** · 1st August 2021, 03:24 PM

I'd be finishing them completely independently (both sides on each panel), then screwing them together with slotted clearance holes to allow the timber to move. Glue is just asking for trouble in this case.

**pippin88** · 1st August 2021, 05:02 PM

Why use the MDF at all?

Why not use a Blackwood apron?

You are edging the MDF so have the real wood there anyway.

MDF is going to contribute very little to stiffness / strength but will add a lot of weight

**daryl@kit-chens** · 1st August 2021, 11:47 PM

Thanks for your response.
I was thinking along the same lines. I was worried gluing would create a Tug of War between the two boards. I must admit I hadn’t thought of the elongated screw holes. Thanks again for your response. 👍

**daryl@kit-chens** · 1st August 2021, 11:56 PM

Thanks Pipping88 for your input.
It’s crazy how we sometimes second guess ourselves, in various life situations. Initially I was ready to do exactly that. But as I need to install a couple of drawers underneath I just started thinking about using the MDF sheet underneath. 🥴

Thanks again for your input. 👍

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