Long overdue "Thank You" and a really stupid question

[Bruce Cohen]

Sorry for taking so long getting back to all of you who responded to my question on making cabinet muntins.

Especially one heck of a thank you to "Lonnie in Orlando", Man I owe you big time for the detailed answer.

I happened to find an article in FWW's "Complete Illustrated Guide Series" on making a router template to cut stopped grooves on the inside of doors (they won't show). I'm going to attempt to make one this weekend. According to the instructions, you first rabbit the inside of the door and then make the muntins. After that there's a bunch of math (see, I said there was too much math stuff) to come up with the correct depth of the grooves and the half-laps that are cut into the muntins. Sounds worse than I hope it is.

Anyway, here's the "stupid question" of the day. the template consists of two pieces of 1/4" hardboard glued together to get the thicknes of 1/2".

All the hardboard I've ever seen has one smooth side and one textured side.

Which sides do I glue together? Now how's that for brain damaged.

Bruce

[cgallery]

All the hardboard I've ever seen has one smooth side and one textured side.

Which sides do I glue together? Now how's that for brain damaged.

Bruce

There is hardboard that is smooth two sides. May not be able to get it at the borg. I've found more lumber yards carry the smooth two sides, though. I think cabinet shops prefer it because the rough side really buys you nothing.

[JR]

FWIW, 1/2" MDF is outstanding template material.

JR

[radhak]

Direct reply to your question : I have tried glueing hardboard, and wish i had not . I needed the smooth sides out so glued the textured side, and it's practically impossible to keep them glued too long. the unevenness is so pronounced that it'll drink up all your glue and still not hold fast.

I now feel glueing up this way is the best, exaggerated, way of displaying why we need to sand surfaces to a high grit before gluing them : to increase the area of contact.

you could try glueing the smooth sides (which i have not done) but then you'd have both sides of the template textured which could be a pain.

but you are much better off using 1/2" mdf for template.

and i find it curious that they'd instruct on glueing up hardboard to get thicker template - there're easier ways .

[cabinetman]

If you have no MDF and you have to use hardboard (masonite), and you want to glue the rough sides together with yellow glue, size it first with a very thin coat and let it dry. Then glue up both pieces with a thin layer on both. Clamp together, or use weights. Just for the record, I haven't experienced glue starvation with just applying one coat to each side , press 'em together, slide 'em around on each other, and then clamp or use weights.

OR just use contact cement. It will work on either the rough side or the smooth side. Roll down tight, or use a small block and hammer.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Bruce:

Glad to help. I sometimes get a little carried away with my replies. Guess it worked out OK this time.

- Lonnie