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Leon[_7_]

On 12/7/2016 9:43 PM, wrote:
Question about how to orient the grain direction for a box/case I am
building. Plan to put two boxes under the workbench and put drawers
in the boxes. The two boxes will be about 1.0 feet tall and 2 feet
wide and 1.5 feet deep, each. Two boxes will be side by side,
between the legs and above the stretcher. Solid red oak 3/4" for all
parts. Will use biscuits to glue everything together. See picture
below to see how boards will be assembled. Top and bottom, the red
oak grain will go left-right. Two sides, the grain will go up-down.
All four sides will have the grain running end to end in a circle and
all expansion will be to the front and back for the sides and
top/bottom.

How to orient the BACK panel? Do I put the boards so the grain runs
up and down? Or do I put the boards so the grain runs left-right?
If the grain is up-down, then the back expansion will push the sides
out. If the grain is left-right, then the expansion will push the
top and bottom apart. The way I am doing the biscuits, with the top
and bottom ends being exposed and the ends of the sides covered, I
think the boards with grain up and down will be better. The biscuits
will keep the sides from being pushed out and the legs of the bench
will keep the boxes compressed and not allowed to expand out.
??????

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Typically with the opening on the front the grain runs left to right on
the top and bottom and up/down on the sides .

Basically the end grain does not face the viewable side/open side.

Solid wood back, grain is parallel to the longest measurement. Plywood
back, grain does not matter mechanically.