Thread: Bookmatched panels + Danish oil and slight bowing... more help please!

Hello all,

well, another question regarding my cot build underway! I have made 4 bookmatched panels from Aust. Red Cedar to fit into the back length of the cot. These are approx 240 x 480mm and roughly 12mm thick. The display side of each panel has been sanded to 1200 and the back left rough (for posterity... or laziness!).

Yesterday I checked that the sanding was as good as I could get it and gave each panel a coat of Danish oil (Organoil) - but only on the display side. As per instructions, I allowed them an hour and then returned to buff off any residual oil. I must say, they all looked unbelievable - very deep 3D effect with the beautiful figure and way beyond my expectations.

However, returning to them just now (in a warm shed), they have all curled slightly - up towards the oiled surface, no doubt due to my oiling only one side. What to do??

My options as I see them:

1. don't worry, the panel frame grooves into which they snugly fit will straighten them out (scary),
2. go and oil the reverse side of them all (unsanded) and hope they curl back to straight (uncertain),
3. smash the entire thing up in a drunken rage and buy a new cot from Ikea (ummm).

OK, so after buying the timber, making 60 mortise and tenon joints, 18 sanded slats, countless other joinery shennanigans, #3 isn't an option. I like number 1 and am certain the slight curling will easily be managed in the grooves cut into the frame. However this may cause trouble over time - yes??

Number 2 may or may not resolve the issue - so this is my quandry.

Any suggestions will be most gratefully received!

Cheers,
David
PS. I will get some pics together and post shortly!