Old timer at a supply house told me my joinery was "too tight" and it stuck with me for months

He said I was leaving zero room for glue expansion and showed me a drawer he made 15 years ago that still slides perfect, has anyone else had some random old dude change how they do a basic joint?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_julia1mo ago

Honestly, that old timer was right. I used to cram my tenons in so tight you'd need a mallet to get them home, and I had joints crack on me every few years. Now I leave a tiny bit of play and my stuff actually lasts. Tbh, those old guys have been doing this for decades, they've seen what works and what doesn't. Ngl, I still catch myself making things too tight and have to back off.

blairwhite1mo ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too, had to ease up on my joinery game.