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[email protected] denbarb@verizon.net is offline
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Default Drawer disaster!!

OK, I need advise, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm building a chest of drawers for my new granddaughter and the
carcase came out great. The drawers are the problem. Most of the
drawers are rectangles made of 1/2" birch plywood, with a 1/2" (nom)
thick cherry front panel (grain running side to side). The front
panels overlap the carcase all around by 1/4", so when you shut the
drawer, the back edge of the cherry panel sets flush with the front of
the carcase (or SHOULD). Does that make any sense??

NOW, the problem. Brainfade time! I decided to put a stripe of glue
about 2" wide across the center of each cherry panel to glue it fast
to the plywood drawer front, and put screws around the periphery of
the drawer to further fasten the cherry panel to the drawer, yet allow
for seasonal movement of the panel against the plywood. Well, when I
glued it fast, the glue spread to about 3 to 3-1/2" wide. Not great,
but I don't thing that's wide enough for expansion/contraction
problems later on.

NOW, here's the rub! ALL 6 OF THE DRAWER FRONTS CUPPED!!! That is,
the center of the cherry panels is in good contact with the drawers,
but the top and bottoms cup away from the drawer by 1/16" (approx.) on
both the top & bottom!! I suspect what happened is the moisture in
the glue (Titebond II) caused the wood to expand in that local area,
causing the warp AND when the glue dried, it was permanent. I tried
tightening the screws on the periphery, but that really isn't working.

Does ANYBODY have any ideas how I can get the panels off without
destroying either the panels or the plywood drawer fronts? I thought
about using the bandsaw to cut them loose and then replaning
everything, but that's nor really the best because I have no way of
reflattening the drawer fronts since some of the drawers are 8" high
and I only have a 6" jointer!

Ideally, it would be great if somebody has some idea how I can soften
the glue and pry the panels off.

Thanks in advance for ANY ideas, I'm about willing to try anything -
I've got about $75 tied up in just the cherry panels and would HATE to
have to redo them!!!

Dennis