On 1/16/2017 4:23 PM, Leon wrote:
On 1/16/2017 10:43 AM, Greg Guarino wrote:
Pictorial:

https://flic.kr/p/PNUxit

It's a shelf/cubbyhole unit, intended to hang from the wall. It's six
feet long and a little over 11" deep. The material is red oak. All the
joints are dadoed or rabbeted (1/4" deep) and glued, as can be seen he

https://flic.kr/p/R48Du6

And there's the rub.

I'm still just a weekend hobbyist and I had not considered that the
joints would involve end grain when I designed the piece. I only thought
about it as I was applying the glue.

The unit consists of about 18 feet of solid red oak 1x12. One of those
online calculators tells me that's about 30 pounds, unloaded. There
won't be books in (and on) these shelves, mostly percussion instruments
including some hand drums. Still, I can imagine it weighing 60-80 lbs.
in use.

The top of the unit will be about six feet off the ground. I figure that
means that only people over 6'3" will ever see it. Even the bottom will
be largely obscured by speakers and a pair of computer monitors. So it
wouldn't be a disaster to add a couple of screws to each joint, maybe
those flat power-head socket type.

Any advice about whether or not I need screws, and if so where I can get
some that are reasonably decorative?



If you are talking about adding screws to reinforce the joints, NO.

I'm confused then. Haven't I read here on this very forum about the
perils of end-grain glue joints? When *are* they bad if not in this
application?

Put it down suspended between a couple boards to hold it up off the
floor. Stand on it. did it hold up? ;~)

I don't think I would try that. It might indeed hold, but lets just say
that I present a tougher test than most people.

But if you feel compelled, counter sink them and plug with oak plugs and
sand smooth.

With the dadoes, there's only 1/2" of "meat" there.



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