A misunderstanding of the end-grain glue 'myth' video?

Mr. Sullivan's video and tests were great, but some folks are missing the point. Let me explain what I mean...
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[StumpyNubs]

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[PatrickSullivan]

James: Thanks for what I feel is a fair commentary on my video about end-grain glue. If viewers came away from the Glue Myths video with the idea that I am promoting end-grain joints, or that they should start making furniture out of 3" square blocks, then I failed to convey my thoughts clearly enough. I am trying to put together some objective, factual information about how glue works. My hope is that this information will be used as a tool by savvy woodworkers to design joinery that is strong enough to perform its intended purpose.

[MyGrowthRings]

Thanks for keeping this a conversation between craftsman and not a mud flinging contest. I appreciate you, Mr. Hamilton.

[bobfognozzle]

This is the epitome of academic critique. Each researcher adds to the body of knowledge which is shared and comented upon by others. Everyone benefits from the peer review. Great job to all!

[AlanStucky]

I really love that Mr. Sullivan’s video brought up some interesting and hard to refute challenges to some age old assumptions about glue joints. I’m also really REALLY grateful that it’s spawned a number of response videos from great educators who now get to expand on how joinery gains strength and how to make things as strong as possible. Seems like this will only make everyone’s finished products better with a deeper understanding of what’s going on.

[ZeeroDubs]

The takeaway from his video, for me at least, was that when making small simple projects I no longer have to bend and contort my designs to avoid the dreaded end grain butt joint. It's really simple, you just need to understand it's limits and it's obvious that it's limits aren't quite as limited as previously thought. Not sure why it's such a big deal, honestly. As I said on another video, if someone watched Patrick's video and came away with "sweet, now I can throw away my joinery equipment and just use end grain glue joints" then those are not people you want making furniture anyways.

[mothman-jzug]

James, you should be ashamed. You make perfect sense, clearing up misunderstandings and confusion, which is completely out of place in a video and, I believe, a violation of YouTube policies. Based on what I've seen in a number of others' video, you are supposed to leave people MORE confused.

[JohnFlyIII]

From what I saw Mr. Sullivan's video did cover all this, but not explicitly.

Think this video is a great add-on, and helps to bring that lab test view back to the workshop.

Very nicely done.

[chrisnash]

I like that it got everyone talking. In my office, two engineers at a cubicle will start the discussion on how to fix a problem, (or build something) and a half hour later you will have 4-6 people going over the problem/job, all learning and looking for the best way to git er dun.

[simonmurray]

Thank you, I have had this same arguement twice today with friends. It shows that people really only take what they want from videos/articles etc. I have always held to the idea that adding a little more glue to anywhere there is endgrain and encouraging that soakage helps to reinforce the joint, my imagining always was that this was like adding hundreds of little dowels. I'm glad both you and Mark pointed out the leverage differential between real world and the Sulivan test. It had all been an interesting opening of an age old can of worms

[tomchristensen]

So delightfully refreshing to see a respectful and appropriate commentary from one Youtuber to another. Truly enjoy your presentations!

[richragan]

YOUR OPINION DOES matter in my humble opinion James!! I always look forward to learning from you and have learned so much! Thank you James for this GREAT explanation!

[teddavid]

Your academic approach to the subject testifies to the depth of your knowledge of woodworking from many angles, as we who watch your videos can attest to.

[angelacarter]

One of the best videos I've seen in a long time. So well executed and easy to understand.

[TheWoodFly]

Your deference and respect in making this video is something our politicians should learn from. A respectful way to educate. Thanks for taking the time.

[kluzz]

A factor that doesn't seem to be mentioned by anybody is the difference between the shear strength and tensile strength of the glue. In a tightly executed mortice and tenon joint, virtually all of the forces are shear forces, which the glue in combination with the wood fibers handles incredibly well. There's a reason why mortice and tenon joints tend to suffer from wood breakage at the base of the tenon instead of ripping the tenon out of the mortice. Sullivan's video tests only tensile strength, and thus only deals with one part of the picture.

[DuffyHomoHabilis]

Way to go, James, and thank you! The key point about lignin-glue-wood fibers (in ascending order of strength) is what you cleared up that others missed.

Most people only hear what they want to hear, or only what they can understand, and don't bother to ask important questions like, "Do these results make sense?"

Next testing should be butt joint vs. long tapered scarf joint, both with the same glue surface area. Then take it a step further and test butt joint against finger-joint splice, with the same glue surface area.

Test shear strength in both directions, as well as tensile strength and torsion.

Mr. Sullivan made a great video. You basically made it better.

Thanks again!

[elmadouf]

Wood movement is also something to bear in mind when gluing end grain to long grain. The long grain bit won't move along it's length, whereas the end grain will change dimensions along its width. One grows while the other stays the same and it might compromise your joint overtime.

[L-]

I had to glue in a new board on the boom on my boat after pulling the old section off. I was told to never use end grain joints but instead create a 12:1 taper so you get a long glue area. So instead of having 4 square inches of surface area, I had 48 square inches. I think you said it well when pointing out that the real test should be end grain joint vs a virgin board with no glue joint. That is, after all, the goal of my boom repair. Make it as strong as if there were no joint.

[bobmartin]

I love that you’re teaching folks about the science and engineering principles of our craft! Very well done Mr.Hamilton!