Expert: Jamie Yocono - 8/18/2008

Question
i glued cross grain-was not thinking right.  top is 9" dp x 18" long (2) uprights are glued to the top 1 @ eack end of top. its been that way for the best part of a year and has not cracked the top so far. do you think it will hold up. is there a way to soften the glue and try to take it apart --stean or chem.  thank you     dick

Answer
Dick,

I'm not sure I totally understand the glue-up you did, but I will venture a guess and say that if it hasn't cracked yet, it's very possible that it won't crack in the future.

See, it's already been through the four seasons, and that's when wood undergoes it's most profound movement. So if you've made it this far, you might be OK. Cross your fingers, and keep the piece away from direct sunlight and furnace vents. Those promote cracking, too - even if a piece is glued up properly!

If it ends up cracking and you want to take it apart, you can do that, too. It really depends on what glue you used - if you used a white or yellow glue, like Titebond, you can dissolve the glue with moisture. I suppose steam would work, but you can probably just wrap a very wet rag around the glue joint and it will soften the glue probably overnight. It's not like it has to completely dissolve, all you really have to do is soften it, and you can pull the joint apart.

Look on the bottle of glue you used and see what they recommend for clean-up, that's a good start for figuring out what will dissolve it.

But if I understood your description, you glued end grain, which is terribly weak. A good swift blow with a hammer will probably pop that joint apart pretty easily.

Good luck, write back if you have more questions. and don't feel bad about not thinking right - I wish I had a dollar for every bonehead thing I've done. I'd be rich.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com