Gluing End Grain Cutting Boards

[Gary W]

I am having trouble when I glue up cutting boards with the boards moving as I tighten my clamps.  I get the boards all lined up on both 1st and 2nd glue ups but as soon as I start to add pressure some of the blanks move.  Obviously I am doing something wrong but I do not know what.  I have boards sanded flat, both sides, after first glue up.  My first 3 or 4 boards were good but after doing about 20, you can see where the alignment is off on the finished board.  Ideas?

[wtnhighlander]

Tried the 'salt trick'?  Sprinkle a bit of salt in the joint to give the surface some grip.

Supposed to work pretty well, I haven't tried it.

[..Kev]

Tightening the clamps slowly helps..  Tighten the center one just a little then move out only slightly tightening.  Then come back and increase the pressure a little and do it again.  repeat until you have the clamping pressure you're looking for.

Also, too much glue won't help the situation.

Welcome to the forums!

[lewisc]

I use a few pieces of pine covered with tape and a couple of clamps to bring them in line.  I don’t do fancy patterns so perfect alignment is not as important for me. I normally wing it and see what comes up. 

[gee-dub]

Interesting in that I never gave the alignment of the final glue-up much consideration(?).  I'm sure this one is off here and there but, I no one seemed to notice.

Be that as it may, the salt trick does work, silica sand does too.  You can also do two of three strips at a time and then glue up the sub-assemblies.   

[Chestnut]

Salt trick works, use sparingly as it doesn't take much.

The painters tape and using a caul/board to constrain things works well too as Lewisc stated.

I also cover the bar of my clamp in painters tap then wax the whole thing and use the bar as well. This isn't a 1 time use i leave the tape on. The clamp grips just fine through it. Makes the clamps look goofy but they don't get covered in glue any more.

Lasts a couple years of moderate use before the  tape gets chewed up than i peel the tape off and put a new layer on. The glue doesn't stick to the tape but rather stays with the wood piece so it really prevents the clamps from getting any glue globs on them. I do the same with pipe clamps which stops the black pipe from staining your work piece. They are the blue things in the right corner in the image above.

[G Ragatz]

2 hours ago, gee-dub said:

Interesting in that I never gave the alignment of the final glue-up much consideration(?).  I'm sure this one is off here and there but, I no one seemed to notice.

Be that as it may, the salt trick does work, silica sand does too.  You can also do two of three strips at a time and then glue up the sub-assemblies.   

That's a beautiful board, but I'd never be able to use it in the kitchen.  Between that pattern and the (mandatory) glasses of wine, I'd be too dizzy to cook dinner!

[Denette]

Shoot, I just use biscuits for alignment.  It's never caused me a problem, and makes the whole thing less stressful.

[Brendon_t]

Good info here so far. 

Like others, i clamp slowly, from the inside out, and have at least two cauls on hand. I don't clamp the cauls in though, I push down from the top (clamp bar on the other side) and Pat the ends as well. A dead blow hammer is good for any fine adjustment under a little pressure