End Glue Question

[Tommy Emmons]

I know that gluing a crosscutend to face grain results in a weak joint. Just curious if anyone has any comments about applying a face coat to the end piece and letting it fill the pores of the end grain, then after it has dried, gluing it to a face grain. Does the glue soak into the "soda straw" fibers and create a solid face?

[Alan Turner]

That will be helpful, but thin the glue with water about 15% or so, and let it tack up. Don't use too much. It is still not an ideal joint, of course, but this does help.

[Mike Cutler]

Tommy

The technique you are referring to is known as "sizing" and it works pretty much as you describe.
Normal PVA glues are thinned and the capillary action of the wood grain is supposed to wick the glue farther up into the wood.

With epoxy the wood is heated at the area and the epoxy flows.

Either technique aides the adhesion of the two pieces, but you really want some form of a mechanical link between the two members. I've most often seen sizing referred to, and used, in an end grain to end grain application, still not just a simple butt joint is used.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Found this on the web somewhere- Not mine:
http://tinyurl.com/ywh8c9

[J. Z. Guest]

It's good to keep your options open, but I prefer to just create face grain gluing surface.

Finger joints is what is used in the industry to join lengths of hand rail banister, for instance. These can be cut quickly & easily on a router table with the right bit. Multiple dowels are another easy option.