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c/cabinetmakersericb66ericb669d agoProlific Poster

Learned a trick for squaring up face frames faster

I've been building face frames for about 8 years now and always struggled with keeping things square during glue-up. Last month, a guy at the Woodcraft in Austin showed me how to tack a temporary diagonal brace across the back before clamping. It holds everything in place while you work, and I haven't had a bad frame since. Has anyone else tried this method or do you have a better way?
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3 Comments
bettywilson
Tack a brace on the front instead so you can see it while you adjust clamps.
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craig.tessa
Hmm, I'm gonna push back a little on "see it while you adjust clamps"... because honestly, who's really staring at the brace while they're making those tiny adjustments? I mean, you're usually focused on the joint and the clamp itself, not the tacked piece. Seems like a good way to accidentally bump it out of alignment if you're not careful. Plus, tacking on the back lets you keep your hands free and your eyes on the real action without the extra step.
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charles678
Tried it both ways and honestly the front tack worked better for me. Never had an issue bumping anything out, just kept a light touch on the clamp while I tacked.
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