Keeping Panels Afloat?

[Lee4847]

I started making new kitchen cupboard doors. I have most of the pieces cut and ready to assemble. I am using space balls to keep the raised panel centered and quiet. As I understand these are not to be glued in place. I also read where you should at least stain the panel before you assemble the door otherwise if it shrinks you have a white line. No problem there, they are stained and one coat of poly applied. After I glue up the rails and stiles to complete the door I will stain and finish the whole assembly. My question is; how do I assure that the panel remains free to move? It seems applying the finish to the completed door will cause the panel to be stuck in place with the applied Poly. One suggestion someone gave me was to complete the finish on the panel and then apply a wax of some sort before assembling the frame around the panel. Does this seem feasible?

[Tom Miller]

I don't think you have to worry about it. No amount of finish will keep the panel from doing the moving it needs to do to keep wood from splitting, or glue joints from popping.

Regards,
Tom

[Salty]

How about using a stick of wax or parafin on the insde of the rail slot before assembly. That way the wax will keep the finish from sticking to the inside of the rail but will not actually be on the center panel unless it does move.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Yep, no need to worry. I make all my raised panels with space balls. No problem at all with a little finish joining at the raised panel and the rail/stile. It will break away if expansion or contraction is needed.
I would not wax the pre-finished panel prior to applying poly to rails and stiles. Poly will only marginally stick to a waxed area, which means it will not be non-sticky enough to wipe off, but will also never cure properly. Poly does not have the holding strength of glue. Be sure to try to keep glue out of the panel joints, but I would not worry about clear finish.

[LCHIEN]

I don't think you have to worry about it. No amount of finish will keep the panel from doing the moving it needs to do to keep wood from splitting, or glue joints from popping.

Regards,
Tom

I think tha's abslutely correct - the immense forces generated by shrinking or expanding wood will overcome any little friction. Wood is very patient.

[LarryG]

I think tha's abslutely correct - the immense forces generated by shrinking or expanding wood will overcome any little friction. Wood is very patient.

Patient, and bull-headed. The first two Truths every woodworker learns are:

1. Wood is going to move.

2. Rust never sleeps.

[Lee4847]

Thanks

Thanks for the info. I guess I never thought of the "bonding strength" of poly vs panel movement.

Thanks again.