I'm currently working on a cabinet for my van buildout, and I painted the ends before applying wood glue because I needed to install it in place and was nervous about leaving untreated wood exposed. Now that I've let the glue dry, I'm worried that the joints might be weaker than I'd like, especially since I aim for durability due to the van's everyday movements. The joints are glued and pocket-holed together. I'm hoping to get some advice on a few things: 1. What are the chances I can break these joints, sand them down, and then re-glue properly? 2. Would adding L-brackets at the joints be a suitable replacement for a glued joint? 3. Are there other ways to strengthen these connections?
3 Answers
I agree, without seeing it, it's hard to give solid advice. But using dowels could be your best bet for adding strength without taking everything apart. It gives more rigidity compared to L-brackets. Also, a heads-up for your next project: using painter's tape on joints you plan to glue can keep areas clear while still allowing you to paint. Just a little tip!
It’s tough to say without seeing the joints, but painting could definitely impact the wood glue's effectiveness. You might find that you can break the joints more easily. I wouldn't recommend L-brackets as a substitute; they don't match the strength of a good glue joint. If you can access them, consider using dowels drilled into the joints and pinning them with glue. After that, just sand everything down flush and repaint—this creates a super strong connection!
You might want to post pictures for better insight, but if you have good access, doweling is likely going to give you the strength you need without the hassle of fully disassembling. Best of luck with it!
+1 for the dowel suggestion! Just remember to add glue to the dowel before installing it.