Joining Petite Elites?

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jim_p

jim_p

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Posts
2,151
Loc
Natick, MA
We have sold a few frames from AMPF's "Petite Elites" line. These are lovely little 1/2" mouldings in various gold and silver finishes and profiles. Trouble is, I can't join them in my VN42 V-nailer... apparently theyr'e *so* thin that the vnail actually starts to split the wood apart and the joint opens up.

I've taken to just gluing them up in a band clamp, no nails or anything. We don't build anything bigger than about 12x16 with these so I'm not too worried about weight, but I was wondering if anyone else has any joining tips to share?
 
You don't have a corner vise??

Go get one and do them that way and then if you want, you can put a small brad into them.
 
framah said:
You don't have a corner vise??

Go get one and do them that way and then if you want, you can put a small brad into them.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have corner vises gathering dust in the storeroom. I don't use them because I don't like side-nailed joints... you can never fill the nail holes to match the moulding finish. Or are you telling me this is the only way to join this type of frame?
 
I have only ordered one their profiles once, and it joined just fine with me. Boy, are they expensive. I have a Cassese.

So I guess what Framah said.
 
What is the wood species these are made from. There really is a difference in the softwood vs. hardwood wedges and that may be the problem. If these are on Basswood you really need to use the softwood wedges because of how narrow they are.
 
I have a Cassese and have no problems. Pretty sure I use hardwood nails, about 2/3 of the way toward the rabbet and only about half the height of the moulding.
 
I order all my AMPF straight cut, except the petite elite. To finnicky in the chopper. If the pressure is too high in the vnailer I crush these frames.

Now I just join them in the corner vises. It's the right tool for this moulding. I also use the tiny # 16 screw eyes or else these get blown apart by the #14's.

Very finnicky, fragile moulding. Not finding them worth the time and money. And when I started out I loved these frames! These and NJ 547.
 
I chop them on my Morso and join them on my old EuroTechnics just fine...do quite a few actually.
 
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