Thread: I should've known better - a cautionary tale of wood movement

scrapping something off is the most heroic and unrecognised part of a job...

I find the failure posts much more useful in many cases than the success ones as I learn more.
thanks for sharing

Banana!

Oh no!

I'm quite amazed by that as I'm a fairly heavy construction adhesive user and have never had that happen to timber, and my motto is why use one tube when you can use 5!

There definitely wasn't anything else at play to cause it?

Originally Posted by aarggh

I'm quite amazed by that as I'm a fairly heavy construction adhesive user and have never had that happen to timber, and my motto is why use one tube when you can use 5!

There definitely wasn't anything else at play to cause it?

Sorry I missed your reply! It could have been some dodgy board joining (who's responsible for that shoddy job! ) I had to redo sections of the original benchtop as the polyurethane glue failed - likely due to user incompetence, I cast no asperstions on the glue itself. That said I've found titebond 2 to be the ducks nuts with spotted gum, haven't had an issue across a number of glue ups. So I can't remember if this cutoff was from the original problem glue up or successful attempt #2.

If it was glued up properly would it still have curled up at the edges and had this issue? I leave it to more experienced people to answer but I did try and measure the 'curl' and it was several millimetres if you count both sides, so not a miniscule amount of movement. The two differences between the front and back faces were that the front was oiled and the back had glue. The back looked and felt moist around all of the glue areas. I'd applied a lot so it was quite moist.

I'm assuming that the finish was applied either before or quite shortly after fixing the panel?

Perhaps it wouldn't have moved as much if you'd let the glue set first, then finished. Mind you, "not as much" isn't the same as "won't" and from the amount of movement I'd guess you'd still be disappointed in the result.

Also, you mentioned pinning it? Along the front edge only? I suspect that would be the bigger mistake. With little possibility for lateral expansion; trapped between pins and wall it can only buckle out.

Hi Alkahestic,
I question did you seal both faces the same(3 coats face side 3 coats wall side or how ever many you choose to do) as this can have a lot to do with finished boards moving. Moisture can get to one face more than the other if not and will result in cupping one way or the other.
Regards Rod.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

I'm assuming that the finish was applied either before or quite shortly after fixing the panel?

Originally Posted by Rod Gilbert

Hi Alkahestic,
I question did you seal both faces the same(3 coats face side 3 coats wall side or how ever many you choose to do)

I used Osmo on one face only because I don't think the glue would've adhered to an Osmo'd surface. Which is likely part of the problems, a film forming finish I could scuff but apply to both sides would likely have been a better choice. The panel was pinned in multiple spots.

In hindsight, it seems like I created a perfect storm of problems - goes back to the old "good - fast - cheap" options. This was a relatively cheap job since it was offcuts and pretty fast but certainly not good.

Even if you didn't seal both sides that sort of movement is somewhat unusual unless there was an excess of moisture in the air.

Or is it possible the timber had been stored outside and maybe had a higher moisture level and bringing it inside and gluing it caused one side to dry more?

You did also say "laundry"? Also known as a low temp sauna with the washing and the drying... Another element to the perfect storm.