Had a drawer box blowout on a big job and found a fix that saved my skin

I was finishing up a kitchen install in the West End, 32 drawers total, all with 1/2 inch maple sides. I used my usual 23 gauge pinner for the joints, just like always. The next morning, I came in and three of the boxes had split right at the corner. The client was coming for a walk-through in two hours. I was panicking. I grabbed some Titebond III and a syringe, forced glue deep into the splits, then clamped them with band clamps. While they set, I went back and put two 18 gauge brads at an angle into every other corner on the remaining boxes for extra hold. The glue held on the broken ones, and nothing else failed. Has anyone else had pin nails not hold up on heavier hardwood boxes? What's your backup plan?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenny_coleman6d ago

Totally feel your panic, been there. I had a run of walnut boxes fail with just pins during a humid week. My go-to now is a dab of glue in the joint before pinning, then I always follow up with a couple of angled 18-gauge brads on the long sides for peace of mind. Do you think it was the maple or maybe the glue just didn't grab that time?

finleyf885d ago

I used to think pins were enough but @jenny_coleman's humid week story convinced me to add glue first.