I'd like to make a piece of furniture from solid walnut. 30 in. high x 24 in. wide. x 12 in. deep. Any recommendations on joinery to attach back to carcass that will allow for wood movement? I've always used plywood back before, so I didn't have this problem.
Solid back
Nov 12, 2006
5 Replies
Make the back using tongue and groove joints? Leave some room for expansion in some or all of the joints.
Two options:
- Frame and panel back
- "ship lap" solid boards
Both solutions require a rabbit (sp?) to let either the frame or the ship lapped solid boards into the sides, top, and bottom.
Rick
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hope to get there one day...
Not sure waht you are actually building here. A common way in older cabinets and cases was to use shiplap or T&G boards for the back, fastened with a nail at center of each end, all fitted into a rabbet going completely around the back. Very frequentyl the boards are given a bevel along the edges that soemwhat softens the look of the gap compared to a 90d edge. You could also use frame & panel construction or some variation thereof. :
This has always worked for me, as well as all of the antiques I've purchased and refinished.
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