osage and black palm

[M P Clark]

Well, I had a glue line separate in a riser this week. Not happy at all about it.

A few months ago I picked up some T88 epoxy after reading that it had over 1700 psi tensel strength. Figured it would work for risers etc. The riser that separated was maple and walnut.

After it separated I remembered I glued up osage and black palm with the T88 as well. I was just able to separate the osage and palm from one another with very little effort. Just a few pieces of the palm remained attached to the osage.

I planned both pieces, sanded both pieces, and wiped the osage with acetone (allowing the acetone to evaporate) before gluing them together. Well apparently it didn't work.

I'm going to try again with smooth on. Is there anything I should do differently this time? Will the smooth on hold the osage and palm together?

[bigbob2]

I use smooth on for the red palm on risers and also as lams and never had a problem. Like you I also wipe my wood with Metholated spirits denatured alcohol?] and allow to dry. All good so far.

[Magnum in Ms]

Worked for me.

 

Only problem I had with the black palm was in the fades. I got some small cracks in the finish along the hard grains in the black palm where it was bending, but has not been a problem. I will not use it in a riser in the fades again thought.

[beachbowhunter]

I just glued ebony and black palm with smooth on. No problems.

[bigbob2]

Love the black palm and osage combo.

[M P Clark]

What's your takes on clamping pressure?

I use c-clamps and when clamping try not to apply to much pressure.  Snug to hold solid but I try not to crank the clamps down.

Are there any rules of thumb on how tight to apply the clamps?