Rant: I just found out how much wood movement can actually be

I was reading an old woodworking book from the library and it said a 12-inch wide oak panel can move over 1/4 inch across the seasons. I always knew wood moved, but that specific number blew my mind. I measured some cabinet doors I made last spring and sure enough, they'd shifted. Anyone else have a go-to method for dealing with wide solid wood panels in casework?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewsullivan1mo ago

Yeah, that quarter inch is a real shocker. I always use a solid wood panel floating in a frame with a proper groove, never glue it in.

simon_sanchez581mo ago

It's like how the best solutions often leave a little room for things to move and change.