Raised Glue Lines

[Owego]

I made an end-grain cutting board using Tite Bond III.  Sanded down to 220 using an RO.  Used suffix as a finish.  Two weeks later I notice all the glue joints are proud of the surface.  Not much but enough to feel and it is definitely a ridge as I can feel resistance in both directions across the  joints.  This has happened on both the top and bottom surfaces, but not on the side of the cutting board. 

So I'm thinking one of two things happened: 1) the wood has shrunk below the glue line, 2) the glue has swelled due to the surfix oil.  But I'm open to other explanations.

The woods used (cherry, walnut, maple) were all kiln dried and remained flush and smooth.  A previous board of similar design has not done this (raised glue joints) but it was finished with plain mineral oil.  Board is 45mm thick.

Tom

 

[RJNeal]

Tom, I've made 50 or so end grain cutting boards and it happens to all of them.
After I glued up the " end grain ", I usually hit it with a belt sander. Theme I would let them age for a month or so. There's a lot of wood that needs to adjust.
I found out if I rushed the flattening and sanding that the board will move and I wouldn't end up with a flat board later.
Just re sand/ refinish the board.
Good luck.
Rick

 

[Nat X]

I've done the diluted salad bowl finish thing on extremely thick end grain boards hoping for longer lasting color and have found the rapid swelling when it is wetted followed by the equally rapid shrinking as it evaporates puts far more strain on the joints than is necessary for very little (if any) gain. Mineral oil will swell the wood once and keep it that way provided it's kept up. The boards I've finished the "normal" way exhibit none of these symptoms even after months of use.

Also, if you dry them in the sun, the surface can easily get above 120 degrees, at which point Titebond begins to melt and let go.

 

[Cheese]

Also, if you dry them in the sun, the surface can easily get above 120 degrees, at which point Titebond begins to melt and let go.

Seriously...that's new on me. Not disagreeing, just trying to digest.

 

[Nat X]

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Data/Materials/GlueTest/gluetest.html