Console Table Build Part 8
I can’t imagine the glue-up of a project without a dry fit check of the parts. Neglecting this step could cause major problems, especially with joinery. I try to get my joinery snug but not too tight when dry, so that when the glue is applied things go together without too much fuss. For me, that means checking each joint by itself, fitting two parts together with no other variables involved. When teaching, I often got questions about why this or that wouldn’t come together as a whole. That typically meant disassembling the project and trying each interface by itself. That process almost always determined the location of the problem.
With mortise and tenon it is difficult to get every joint right on the first try. There are too many variables during the cutting of the parts – grain direction, wood density, moisture content, bit sharpness, clamp pressure, and mostly, the hand force we use to hold a part in place while it’s being cut. Because of that, I like to get my part fit a little on the tight side, then fine tune each joint. It takes a little time but it’s well worth it.
Smoothing or sanding parts prior to glue-up is also important. There are very few parts for which that doesn’t make sense. Take the time to do it right and it will save you time in the long run.
