Kreg Owners' Community

Joint strength question - Across the top versus in between

I was wondering about this question. I see that most of the projects or diagrams have two side pieces and one piece IN BETWEEN them, like the top of the cabinet plan. None of the projects seems to have the set up where there are two side and the top goes ACROSS both sides. Is there a reason for this approach? Is it simply that the joints will be stronger in between versus joining a piece ACROSS.

Inquiring minds want to know.

I have a cabinet project I am going to try out and I with two long sides. I was able to have a top piece cut to fit across the, but I have several pieces cut that were meant for shelves that could be used as the top for an "in between" mount. I seek wisdom!!!

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Hi George,  the joints are just as strong and it is a matter of how the joinery looks as a whole once it is finished.  The method where you run outside stiles full length and there outside rails full length intersecting the stiles with out being broken up by another stile is to prevent a chopped up appearance once it is finished. 

The easiest way to describe this is to imagine the face frame as a picture frame.  The outside stiles are ran full length and the outside rails intersect the two outside stiles in one continuous length.  Any stiles located on the inside of the frame should connect to the upper and bottom rail in a full

length terminating at the intersection without cutting the rails.  Then any inter rails should connect to those stiles without cutting into the stiles.  This method also prevents the amount of the end grain showing on the cabinet work as this method hides the only showing end grain by it being at the top of the cabinet or at the bottom of the cabinet which is much harder to see.

Jay,

Thanks for your reply and insight.

I agree, stiles running out to the ends of the structure, and the rails butted to the stile, give the object a better appearance.

This approach also allows intermediate rails to be cut to the same length as the top and bottom rails. 

 

I've made a sample frame with the rails running the full width,

which resulted in the ends of the rails, (end grain), being exposed.

When staining, the end of the rails will be darker, since the end grain absorbs stain more deeply.\

Didn't like it.

This make the ends standout like a fly sitting on honey.

  Hi Ken been pretty busy lately and don't have as much time as I would like to spend.  Yes the big thing that we all strive for in our woodworking is the eye appeal and of course we all want to accomplish this with a good solid and sound structure so that is does not fail over time.

Wood grain is difficult enough to work at time and when you add end grain to equations you find the eye appeal level going down hill with all the dark end grain when you add stain or other finish to the piece.  And yes the fly on honey is putting it lightly when you are staining some end grains.  Have a great day! 
 
Ken Darga said:

Jay,

Thanks for your reply and insight.

I agree, stiles running out to the ends of the structure, and the rails butted to the stile, give the object a better appearance.

This approach also allows intermediate rails to be cut to the same length as the top and bottom rails. 

 

I've made a sample frame with the rails running the full width,

which resulted in the ends of the rails, (end grain), being exposed.

When staining, the end of the rails will be darker, since the end grain absorbs stain more deeply.\

Didn't like it.

This make the ends standout like a fly sitting on honey.

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