How would you fix this error?

Kodi Crescent

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Aug 6, 2010
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791
Hi.  I'm building a work bench table.  Essentially a top with supports in the side and in the middle.  Each of the supports runs the width of the table, and will be dominoed and glued into place.

While fitting the top, I got a bit overzealous with the power planer on the middle support.  This leaves me a gap of about 2mm between the center support and the bottom of the table.  This support will be dominoed to the table.  The domino mortises have already been cut.  I'd like to get as much glue surface between the table and the supports to minimize any racking, so I'm looking for some way to fix my goof.  This is built out of Poplar.

I'm thinking of a few options and would like some opinions.

1.  I could glue a new piece of poplar on the middle support and then plane it back down to the appropriate level, recut the dominos for the support and glue the top on.

2.  I could plane a bit off the underside of the table on each end, and adjust the domino height before I glue it into place.  The table is laminated poplar pieces, laminated on end, with a thickness of about 2".  I'm a novice with the power plane, so I'm afraid I may do more damage.  Plus I'm a novice with a hand plane, and I tend to get really bad tearout on this.

3.  I could do nothing and leave the gap.

4.  I could fill the gap with some sort of putty (e.g. Minwax high performance filler) at the time I glue the dominos in place.

I'm open to other options.  Any advice on how to fix this?

Thanks!
 
What is the thickness of the top?  And the width and length?  How many cross-supports need fixing? 

I'd vote for #1 as it would offer the best support long-term.  But if there are multiple supports that spread the weight, you could just cut two wedges and glue them into place in the one center support after setting the top, assuming there is sufficient support and dominoes holding the top in place.  It sounds like the center piece is not visible except if you look under the top.

neil
 
Drywall shim glued to the support. You can open the domino slots with an Xacto knife.

Tom
 
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/pl_ca_prem/features/Loctite-PL-Premium-Polyurethane-Construction-Adhesive.htm

LocTite PL Premiun poly    use gloves takes months to get off your fingers

Just  lay down a thick dbb bead (enough to fill the void ) , moisten each contact point slightly , this stuff expands slightly  & cures harder than the wood it's self
I've used it to fill a F/U just like you've done , scrape off any squeeze out before it cures OR you'll have to chisel it off  full cure in about 36 hours
use the dominos just as before Squirt a dab in each hole  [eek]

[flash]http://[/flash]
 
Thanks for the replies.  I think I'm going to try gluing another piece on and planing it down as a "lesson" on how to fix a foul up.

But now I have some other options for times when I don't need a learning experience.
 
Adjustable feet underneath the support? Would help to correct an uneven floor as well.

 
What I SHOULD have done, hindsight being 20/20 is one of the following:

1. Leveled the table so that the gaps were even on the left and right size, and then measured how much really needed to be taken off and measure appropriately when I planed.  (And I should have sharpened my hand plane blades and done it all by hand, but I was too lazy to break out my sharpening equipment).

2. I have a support piece on the bottom that is held to the frame by a dado.  I glued it before I attached this.  I shouldn't have glued it first.  I should have driven this into the table and then glued my bottom support piece.  It wouldn't matter if it's flush.

But, this will be a good chance to learn how to fix the problem and practice option 1.
 
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