jmack77 Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 So, I'm building a display shelf (it's really nothing more than a bookcase) for a store. The shop owner has requested that for the back I use horizontal wood planks. So, I planned down some poplar that I had lying around from three quarter inch to half inch. Now my question is this. Should I just butt joint the planks, or put a rabbit on each plank with a slight gap to account for wood movement? I will only be nailing the planks to the case sides and a divider. I am in the eastern panhandle of WV, and it has been very cool and dry for the past week or two. The poplar has been sitting in my garage for about 6 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted September 18, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I would use a ship-lap joint (rabbets on each edge, but facing opposite directions) with a chamfered face edge to create a shadow line. Unless your boards are really wide, movement shouldn't be a huge problem, but the overlapping rabbets keep any light from showing through if the woods does shrink, and the shadow line makes it even harder to notice a gap. Just leave some expansion room where the back meets the top and bottom of the case. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 +1 on shiplap rabbets w a Chamfer. I use a laminate sample chip to space the boards just in case they swell a bit after assembly. When you start with a 1/32 to 1/16 gap at each joint plus the chamfers any future movement either way is allowed for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Agree with shiplaps - it forms a cleaner joint - won't show a gap if there's any wood movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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