Edge joining wood is a common practice when creating tabletops and other large wood surfaces. In this article, I will show you how to edge glue wood in 4 different ways.
To learn more about the different methods and which one is right for your needs, then you should check out my article “Edge joining wood: Building tabletops, benchtops, and more!”.
Directory
- How to edge glue wood
- How to edge glue wood with dowels
- How to edge glue wood with splines
- How to edge glue wood with biscuits
How to edge glue wood
Materials Required:
- Slow dry wood glue
- Saw (table, circular, or handsaw)
- (6) 2×4 wood (the length of the table width)
- 3+ long clamps (openings of the table width)
- 6 12in clamps
- Damp towel
Time Required: 1 hour for first timers, 30 minutes on average
Steps for edge gluing wood:
- Cut the jointed side flat
- Position long clamps
- Apply wood glue to workpiece wood
- Position 2×4 wood pieces
- Lightly tighten small clamps
- Tighten long clamps
- Fully tighten small clamps
- Remove excess glue
- Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Step 1: Cut the jointed side flat
Dimensional lumber is slightly curved around the edges and sides of the board. This will result in air pockets and a kerf along the joints.
The prevent this, you will need to cut the jointed sides of the workpieces flat to give a smooth and flat glue surface.
Using a table saw, circular saw, or handsaw, cut off 1/8 of an inch of wood on each sides of your boards.
Step 2: Position long clamps
The clamps that will secure the wood pieces together will go under the workpiece. The long clamps should have an opening at least the width of the workpiece width.
Lay out the long clamps on a flat surface.
Position two clamps on each end of the board and lay out the other clamps evenly in the middle.
Step 3: Apply wood glue to workpiece wood
In this step, we will glue up the tabletop. You want to attach each piece and assemble to the tabletop on top of the long clamps.
Grab the first wood piece and apply glue to the side that will be jointed.
Grab the next wood piece and apply glue on one jointed side
Attach the unglued side of this wood piece with the glued side of the previous.
Repeat this until the second to the last wood piece
Secure the last wood piece to the previous. Remember not to add glue to the last wood piece.
Step 4: Position 2×4 wood pieces
In this step, you will sandwich the tabletop with 2×4 wood pieces to ensure the tabletop dries flat. The more 2×4 pieces you have, the better.
First you will wrap the 2×4 pieces in plastic wrap. This will prevent the 2×4 wood from becoming bonded with the workpiece.
Then, place a 2×4 pair on the top and bottom of the tabletop.
Then, place the other pairs, spreading each pair out evenly throughout the tabletop.
Step 5: Lightly tighten small clamps
The small clamps will be used to tighten the 2×4 wood to make sure the board stays flat.
Position the clamps on each side of the 2×4 pairs and tighten them lightly.
Step 6: Tighten long clamps
Now tighten the long clamps to join each tabletop piece of wood.
Step 7: Fully tighten small clamps
Now fully tighten the small clamps and remove the excess glue using a damp towel.
Step 8: Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for the glue to set before removing the clamps. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the minimum time.
Click to go to directory
How to edge glue wood with dowels
Materials Required:
- Slow dry wood glue
- Saw (table, circular, or handsaw)
- 3+ long clamps (openings of the table width)
- Damp towel
- Spade Bit
- Drill
- Dowels
- Mallet
- Marking gauge (optional)
Time Required: 1.5 hours for first timers, 45 minutes on average
Steps for edge gluing wood with dowels:
- Cut the jointed sides flat
- Mark dowel hole positions
- Bore dowel holes
- Cut dowels to length
- Position long clamps
- Apply wood glue and insert dowels
- Tighten clamps
- Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Step 1: Cut the jointed sides flat
Dimensional lumber is slightly curved around the edges and sides of the board. This will result in air pockets and a kerf along the joints.
The prevent this, you will need to cut the jointed sides of the workpieces flat to give a smooth and flat glue surface.
Using a table saw, circular saw, or handsaw, cut off 1/8 of an inch of wood on each sides of your boards.
Step 2: Mark dowel hole positions
In this step, you will need to mark the location of the dowel holes. It is essential to mark the exact location in relation to the top and the edges of the wood so that the board will remain flat.
Mark dowel hole positions in relation to the edge of the workpiece.
Transfer those marking to each workpiece wood.
Using the previous markings, mark each exact location in the center.
Note: If you have a marking or a cutting gauge, you can find the center once and replicate the markings.
Step 3: Bore dowel holes
Using a spade bit the thickness of the dowel, bore holes in the marked locations for each wood piece.
The dowel holes should be no less than .5″ and no more than 1/3 of the wood width. For simplicity, bore all of the holes the same depth.
Step 4: Cut the dowels to length
You will need to cut the dowels 1/4th of an inch short so that you give the workpiece room to expand and contract during changing seasons, and humidity.
To do this you will multiply the dowel hole depth by 2. You will then take 1/4th of an inch of the measurement and cut the dowels.
Step 5: Position long clamps
The clamps that will secure the wood pieces together will go under the workpiece. The long clamps should have an opening at least the width of the workpiece width.
Lay out the long clamps on a flat surface.
Position two clamps on each end of the board and lay out the other clamps evenly in the middle.
Step 6: Apply wood glue and insert dowels
In this step, we will glue up the tabletop. You want to attach each piece and assemble to the tabletop on top of the long clamps.
Grab the first wood piece and apply glue to the side that will be jointed.
Mallet dowels into the holes.
Grab the next wood piece and apply glue on one jointed side
Mallet dowels into the holes just like before.
Mallet the unglued side of this wood piece with the glued side of the previous, aligning the dowel holes.
Repeat this until the second to the last wood piece
Secure the last wood piece to the previous. Remember not to add glue to the last wood piece.
Step 7: Tighten clamps
Now tighten the long clamps to join each tabletop piece of wood.
In the other methods, we flatted the board by using 2×4’s and more clamps. However, the dowels will not budge. That is why it was so important to mark the dowel locations accurately.
However, it is unrealistic to expect to get a perfectly straight board the first time. So many people use a planer and/or jointer to even and flatten the boards.
To learn more about how to flatten boards, check out these articles.
Step 8: Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for the glue to set before removing the clamps. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the minimum time.
Click to go to directory
How to edge glue wood with splines
Materials Required:
- Slow dry wood glue
- Table saw
- 1/4″ kerf dado blade (optional)
- 3+ long clamps (openings of the table width)
- Damp towel
- Plywood strips
- Mallet
Time Required: 2 hours for first timers, 45 minutes – 1 hour on average
Steps for edge gluing wood with dowels:
- Cut the jointed sides flat
- Mark groove position
- Set up table saw
- Cut grooves
- Cut plywood splines
- Position long clamps
- Apply wood glue and insert splines
- Position 2×4 wood pieces
- Lightly tighten small clamps
- Tighten long clamps
- Fully tighten small clamps
- Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Step 1: Cut the jointed sides flat
Dimensional lumber is slightly curved around the edges and sides of the board. This will result in air pockets and a kerf along the joints.
The prevent this, you will need to cut the jointed sides of the workpieces flat to give a smooth and flat glue surface.
Using a table saw, circular saw, or handsaw, cut off 1/8 of an inch of wood on each sides of your boards.
Step 2: Mark groove position
In this step, you will need to mark the location of the grooves.
You will only need to mark the location for one board, since you are using the table saw to replicate your measurements.
Step 3: Set up table saw
Using a spade bit the thickness of the dowel, bore holes in the marked locations for each wood piece.
Position the table saw blade to the desired height. The blade should be no less than .5″ and no more than 1/3 of the wood width.
Position the fence so the blade is right past the marked line. Lock the fence in place.
Step 4: Cut the grooves
Run each workpiece wood piece through the table saw to cut grooves in the same location.
Note: If you are using a regular table saw blade, your cut will be 1/8″ thick. If you are using a 1/4″ kerf dado blade, your cut will be 1/4 inches thick.
Depending on the blade that you use, you will need plywood of the same thickness.
Step 5: Cut plywood splines
Now, you will want to cut the plywood splines to size.
First, you will cut the plywood length the length of the tabletop.
Next, you will take the groove depth and multiply it by 2 to cut the plywood width.
Step 6: Position long clamps
The clamps that will secure the wood pieces together will go under the workpiece. The long clamps should have an opening at least the width of the workpiece width.
Lay out the long clamps on a flat surface.
Position two clamps on each end of the board and lay out the other clamps evenly in the middle.
Step 7: Apply wood glue and insert splines
In this step, we will glue up the tabletop. You want to attach each piece and assemble to the tabletop on top of the long clamps.
Grab the first wood piece and apply glue to the side that will be jointed.
Mallet splines into groove.
Grab the next wood piece and apply glue on one jointed side
Mallet splines into groove just like before.
Mallet the unglued side of this wood piece with the glued side of the previous, aligning the dowel holes.
Repeat this until the second to the last wood piece
Secure the last wood piece to the previous. Remember not to add glue to the last wood piece.
Step 8: Position 2×4 wood pieces
In this step, you will sandwich the tabletop with 2×4 wood pieces to ensure the tabletop dries flat. The more 2×4 pieces you have, the better.
First you will wrap the 2×4 pieces in plastic wrap. This will prevent the 2×4 wood from becoming bonded with the workpiece.
Then, place a 2×4 pair on the top and bottom of the tabletop.
Then, place the other pairs, spreading each pair out evenly throughout the tabletop.
Step 9: Lightly tighten small clamps
The small clamps will be used to tighten the 2×4 wood to make sure the board stays flat.
Position the clamps on each side of the 2×4 pairs and tighten them lightly.
Step 10: Tighten long clamps
Now tighten the long clamps to join each tabletop piece of wood.
Step 11: Fully tighten small clamps
Now fully tighten the small clamps and remove the excess glue using a damp towel.
Step 12: Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for the glue to set before removing the clamps. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the minimum time.
Click to go to directory
How to edge glue wood with biscuits
Materials Required:
- Slow dry wood glue
- Saw (table, circular, or handsaw)
- 3+ long clamps (openings of the table width)
- Damp towel
- Wood biscuits
- biscuit jointer
- Mallet
- Marking gauge (optional)
Time Required: 1.5 hours for first timers, 30 minutes on average
Steps for edge gluing wood with dowels:
- Cut the jointed sides flat
- Mark biscuit hole positions
- Create biscuit holes
- Position long clamps
- Apply wood glue and insert biscuits
- Position long clamps
- Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Step 1: Cut the jointed sides flat
Dimensional lumber is slightly curved around the edges and sides of the board. This will result in air pockets and a kerf along the joints.
The prevent this, you will need to cut the jointed sides of the workpieces flat to give a smooth and flat glue surface.
Using a table saw, circular saw, or handsaw, cut off 1/8 of an inch of wood on each sides of your boards.
Step 2: Mark biscuit hole positions
In this step, you will need to mark the location of the biscuit holes. It is essential to mark the exact location in relation to the top and the edges of the wood so that the board will remain flat.
Mark biscuit hole positions in relation to the edge of the workpiece.
Transfer those marking to each workpiece wood.
Using the previous markings, mark each exact location in the center.
Note: If you have a marking or a cutting gauge, you can find the center once and replicate the markings.
Step 3: Create biscuit holes
Align the biscuit jointer with the marked locations and create the biscuit holes.
Step 5: Position long clamps
The clamps that will secure the wood pieces together will go under the workpiece. The long clamps should have an opening at least the width of the workpiece width.
Lay out the long clamps on a flat surface.
Position two clamps on each end of the board and lay out the other clamps evenly in the middle.
Step 6: Apply wood glue and insert the biscuits
In this step, we will glue up the tabletop. You want to attach each piece and assemble to the tabletop on top of the long clamps.
Grab the first wood piece and apply glue to the side that will be jointed.
Mallet biscuits into the holes.
Grab the next wood piece and apply glue on one jointed side
Mallet biscuits into the holes just like before.
Mallet the unglued side of this wood piece with the glued side of the previous, aligning the dowel holes.
Repeat this until the second to the last wood piece
Secure the last wood piece to the previous. Remember not to add glue to the last wood piece.
Step 7: Tighten clamps
Now tighten the long clamps to join each tabletop piece of wood.
In the other methods, we flatted the board by using 2×4’s and more clamps. However, the dowels will not budge. That is why it was so important to mark the dowel locations accurately.
However, it is unrealistic to expect to get a perfectly straight board the first time. So many people use a planer and/or jointer to even and flatten the boards.
To learn more about how to flatten boards, check out these articles.
Step 8: Wait 20-30 minutes to dry
Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes for the glue to set before removing the clamps. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the minimum time.
Click to go to directory
Conclusion
Edge joining wood is a common practice to creating larger wooden pieces, like tabletops and benchtops. In this article, we learned 4 different methods on how to edge join wood.
The first method was to use just wood glue, the second method was with using dowels, the third method was with using grooves and plywood splines, and the fourth method was with using biscuits.
Each method has their pros and cons that you should consider. To learn more about each method, go to my article “Edge joining wood: Building tabletops, benchtops, and more!” where I explain everything there is to know about edge joining and the methods involved.
Thank you so much for reading this article, I hope it was helpful!
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