In the industrial cabinet-making world, it is suggested not to join boards
that are more than 3" wide for stability reasons. I don't go that small.
Usually, the boards I join are around 4" to 7" if they are flat sawn boards.
If the boards are quartersawn, their stability allows even wider boards.
However, there is no hard and fast rule. If the boards have good figure,
then you may want to use a wide board for the panel. You will have to live
with the seasonal changes. Hopefully, they are well behaved boards so
little movement is seen. Since you are limited by you jointer (unless you
neander it), you may have to rip a wide board to less than jointer width,
mill it and reglue. But remember, it is still considered one board since
you haven't changed the grain direction. If you do use wide boards, try to
use ones that have the grain oriented more or less transverse to the face
(quartersawn).

Preston


"James "Cubby" Culbertson" wrote in message
...
Hiya All,
I'm getting ready to build a couple of hutches out of pine. I'm going
to be having to glue up panels for the sides. Is there a general
formula for how large your boards for glueing up can be? For
instance, let's say the panel is to be 18" wide. Is it acceptable to
use two 9" wide boards? 3-6" boards? etc.... Given the pine will
show (ie. no painting), I want to minimize grain changes etc and
gluing up two boards might be more beneficial for that. I've done a
number of glue-ups like this before, but I always used plans that have
told me how wide my boards should be for the panel. These do not.
Thanks very much for any help!!!!!
Cheers,
cc