"john" wrote in message
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"r.p.mcmurphy" wrote in message
...
Sim C. wrote:
Yesterday I assembled a TV table [or a 'Norrebo' as Ikea insist on
calling them - http://tinyurl.com/dob82 ]

It comes with all the standard fasteners etc, as mentioned here
earlier, but no glue. Hmmm, not happy so quick trip to Glynn Webb for
some wood glue which was liberally applied in the assembling. 'That
ain't gonna fall apart, ever!' methinks. Even if Ikea think their
fasteners are good enough, I'm sceptical.

Now my mate says you shouldn't use glue, but he doesn't know why -
just something he's heard.

Could he be right? Any reason NOT to use glue? There were a few dowels
that had a good blob, but mainly it was 'rough end' chipwood onto
birch veneer.

There might be a problem in using glue on areas that haven't been
designed to utilise it. There are conflicting considerations;-
wood, hardboard etc. has a tendency to expand/contract
with the water content in the atmosphere. Generally this means
that as wooden parts are 'dried' by central heating, they contract
and as the temperature rises and heating is switched off they absorb
water from the air and expand. A well designed wooden construction
will have slots, mortices etc to accommodate such movements of the
individual components one versus the other. - Gluing the pieces
together will not permit the mutual movement and something will give -
frequently a split in the middle of something or a drawer front
pulling off.

--

Brian