Pressure on inlays when gluing - Vcarve inlay in aspire 12.0

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lrogers
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Pressure on inlays when gluing - Vcarve inlay in aspire 12.0

Post by lrogers »

I have 1 more inlay question. Before I ask, I just wanted to say I've learned a lot in this forum so far, and really appreciate the knowledge here! Thank you! It's helping me get better slowly but surely.

My question: How much clamping pressure should I apply when gluing up inlays? I hear the wood creaking and I stop. I'm wondering if I should push past the creaking until the clamps won't go anymore, based on my latest results?

I am cutting with a 30 degree Jenny V-bit (https://www.cadencemfgdesign.com/produc ... ovee-jenny), using the Vcarve Inlay toolpath in Aspire 12.0. My settings are:
  • .15" pocket depth
  • .03" glue gap
  • .12" surface gap
Below is my latest round of testing. I'm trying to do a complicated pattern in endgrain, figuring if I can nail this, then I definitely have my inlay process down. I cut this test with the settings above, glued it, and clamped it in a press I made similar to the picture below. I could have clamped harder, but I got nervous when the wood started creaking. You can see some inconsistent gaps on the top. However, when I cut it apart, as you can see below, there was still room in the glue gap. So should I have clamped it more? Or is there potentially another problem? And yes, I surfaced the top of both pieces with my CNC so I know they were flat before cutting the male and female parts (I know the side view looks like uneven wood- I resawed it on my bandsaw to reuse some of the wood for additional testing).
Top.jpg
Side.jpg
press.png

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Rcnewcomb
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Re: Pressure on inlays when gluing - Vcarve inlay in aspire 12.0

Post by Rcnewcomb »

Your sawed version looks correct.
Attachments
VinlayHalf.jpg
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

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adze_cnc
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Re: Pressure on inlays when gluing - Vcarve inlay in aspire 12.0

Post by adze_cnc »

A good quote from this page:
...the short answer is that a good-fitting joint with the right amount of glue doesn't require tremendous pressure. The clamps just serve to hold the surfaces in contact while the glue dries.
Over apply pressure and you squeeze almost all the glue from the joint.

And something to read from the Jorgensen clamp people.

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