How to Glue Breadboard Ends
George VondriskaDescription
Breadboard ends are attractive, and functional. They cover the end grain of a panel and, because they’re applied long grain to cross grain, they help the panel remain flat. However, the long grain to cross grain connection can create a problem, if the ends aren’t properly applied.
Seasonal changes
Even after a tree has been cut down, converted to lumber, and the material dried, wood continues to be a living thing. As temperature and humidity change throughout the year, solid wood panels will expand and contract. The wider the panel, the more movement it’s likely to experience. There’s no stopping this. The panel must be allowed to go through its seasonal changes, or it can crack.
Breadboard end techniques
Breadboard ends are typically joined to the panel by a tongue and groove joint. When it comes to cracking the joint isn’t the problem. Cracking happens if the ends aren’t properly glued to the panel. It’s all about judicious use of the glue, and knowing how to glue wood together.
Where they’re used
The traditional use of breadboard ends is on cutting boards. But many woodworking projects can take advantage of what the ends offer, including table tops and box lids.
I'm working on a project in the top of it 'cause for top with breadboard ends. So I've got them glued on. Look at where the squeeze out is here. There's only squeeze out in about the center third because there's only glue there. Here's the deal. A breadboard end is a cross grain glue up. So what I mean by that is grain is going this way here, this way here. If I glue these together throughout the length of that breadboard end, eventually the field as it tries to expand and contract is going to crack. So instead what you do is you only glue it in approximately the center third. And then from here the top can expand and contract. Back here it can expand and contract. That'll give it enough movement that it's not going to split on it. Now it's a pretty interesting phenomenon that the day I build these things I get it set up so that the end of the breadboard end is even with the edge of the field. But looking at this tool chest I have over here it's made out of the same material. This is ponderosa pine built about 15 years ago. And if you look right here because there's a little discrepancy between the end grain and the long grain. When these were glued together they were even. Over time and seasonally, the center, the field has shrunk away from the end low humidity conditions. As the humidity goes back up, it'll expand depending on what time of year I made this. It's possible that we get to a point where the edge of this goes past the end of this. They'll never be even again except when the humidity is exactly the same as it was the day I put these together then there'll be flushed. Otherwise one will exceed the other pretty much for most of the year. So it's a very interesting way to put wood together. Gotta when we use breadboard ends incorporate that expansion and contraction to what we're doing. Only glue the center. Third, let the field expand and contract from there. That way you won't get big cracks in this. Just gotta be ready for that idea that they're going to be misaligned for portions of the year.
Hi. I have a coffee table that has these ends with what appears tongue/groove joins. Problem is the ends are separating and I need to pull it apart to redo them. How can I remove the ends without damage? Thanks
If you were to use dowel 'pins' instead of glue, would you be better off pinning in the middle like the glue shown, in about a 1/3 area, or could you pin the ends using oblong holes in the table top to account for the movement?
Does this apply to plywood as well? As if you were to apply a solid wood onto the end grain side of the ply for a shelf?
If you are doing breadboard ends on a project that will only be viewed from one side, say perhaps a sofa table or hall table that you never see the back side of the top with any regularity, could you glue instead the front 1/3 or so so that you dont get the misalignment of the front breadboard and field on a regular basis? Or would that lead to cracking, and/or misalignment still?
If you apply finish to both sides of the panel will it still expand & contract & possibly crack.