DIY Wood Panels

Use rough lumber and clamps to build solid-wood panels.

Wood panels are used to create parts for solid-wood projects. Lumber is glued together edge-to-edge to form a rough panel. The panel is then cut into individual parts for woodworking projects such as doors, chair and table legs, tabletops, church pews, benches or any project that needs solid wood. Edge-glued wood is actually stronger than solid pieces of wood due to alternating grain patterns. You can make panels at home with clamps and glue.

Things You'll Need

• Safety glasses
• Rough lumber, with straight edges on both sides
• Sawhorses
• Glue in glue bottle
• Bar clamps, 36 inches
• Hammer
• Table saw or miter saw

Instructions

1. Put on your safety glasses. Lay random-width lumber across two sawhorses. Choose the best side of each piece and lay it face-up. Arrange the lumber in the configuration of the panel you want to create.

2. Stand all of the lumber on edge except the piece that is the farthest away from you.

3. Squeeze a heavy bead of glue from the glue bottle down the edge of each board. Lay the boards back down in the panel configuration. Reach across the panel and pull the boards together with your hands. The glued side of each board should touch the dry side of the board next to it.

4. Place clamps across the panel, spacing them every 6 inches. Tighten them slightly. Using a hammer, hit the boards in the panel one at a time to drive them down flush with each other. when the panel is flush all the way across, tighten the clamps as hard as you can. Wait 1 hour for the glue to dry.

5. Remove the clamps and cut the panel to size with a table saw or miter saw, or cut the panel into parts or components for projects.

Tips & Warnings

• You can cut up a panel after drying it for only 1 hour, but it's better to leave it as long as you can, up to 24 hours. You can run the entire panel through a planer if it will fit, but it's much easier to cut it up first.

• Always wear safety glasses when working with wood. Wipe up wet glue with a damp cloth before it dries. You can also wipe the wet glue off the panel.