Catching Glue Squeeze-Out with Tape
H
ERE’S A TECHNIQUE THATkeeps squeeze-out off the wood when
you’re gluing up panels. When the boards have been jointed,
just before gluing, apply a strip of box-sealing tape on the face of each
board along the jointed edge. Let the tape overhang the jointed edges
by^1 ⁄ 4 in. or so. Press the tape tightly along the corners. Then trim the
overhang with a new safety razor, taking care not to nick the jointed
edges. Glue as usual. Any glue squeeze-out will go onto the face of
the tape and not onto your panel.
After the glue cures, remove the clamps, and pull the two pieces of
tape off the joint. There may be a hairline bead of glue at the seam,
but this is easily removed. Don’t let the tape stay on the work too long
because the adhesive may become hard to remove.
The best tape for this job is 3M’s Scotch premium commercial
box-sealing tape. Avoid using duct tape, masking tape, cheap packing
tape, or regular Scotch tape.
CHAPTER EIGHTApply box-sealing tape to face of boards
along jointed edges; trim excess.
Glue squeeze-out
captured on tape.