I understand the role of glue. It is to allow the unskilled to do 'woodworking'. "Get er' done ya'll"
I know what a lamination is too. Just don't consider it as 'fine' woodworking, as the unskilled do.
One thing that we know for certain is that laminations delaminate. A dowel will never suffer this. Ever.
There are a great many examples of traditional woodworking done without the benefit of modern glue that have stood the test of time. Some on the order of thousand of years.
The longest lasting modern glued joint is less than 50 years old, and there are countless modern glued joints that have failed in less than a decade.
Actually, with the frequency of changes in glue formulations, 50 years is extremely generous. There are no time tested glued joints done with modern glue, it simply hasn't been around long enough.
Sure, there are non glued joints that have failed too, but no modern glued joint can hold a candle to non glued for at least another thousand years.
Edit:
Here's a question for you.
What would you do if the hardware stores closed tomorrow for the foreseeable future?
Don't even get me started on metal fasteners and the nail sick wood they have destroyed.
One thing that we know for certain is that laminations delaminate
You still don't know what it is do you? De-laminate?
You've no idea what your talking about. Not even a little.
great many examples of traditional woodworking done without the benefit of modern glue
Traditional? What does that mean? There are many schools of cabinetry. The big ones around here being an old English, or Mennonite/Amish.
Both of which, like all styles of solid wood cabinetry have heavily incorporated white glue.
longest lasting modern glued joint is less than 50 years old
Do you just make this shit up? I own cabinetry older then that, as do many others.
Glue is not a 'modern' invention, and once white glue came along it will last longer than the wood. That is fact, feel free to look it up.
You can not edge-join panels, and have any strength without glue.
Joinery is impressive, but it's not magic, and it is improved by the use of glue.
but no modern glued joint can hold a candle to non glued for at
100% bullshit. White glue is stronger than wood, and deteriorates at a much slower rate.
Those are facts.
You really shouldn't try and debate something you have so little experience with.
At least educate yourself before looking like a fool.
I knew what laminates were long before you came to troll, poorly.
No you don't own anything that was made with modern glue over 50 years ago. Probably nothing over 10 years. They change the formulas on glue practically every other day. Ya, I exaggerate, but not by much. It is not uncommon to see a new formula each year.
Traditional is typically woodwork done without kiddy cheats such as glue and metal fasteners, although not strictly.
If you think you can't edge join without glue and have a strong product, you are far more ignorant than I am.
But keep trolling if you've got nothing better to do.
If you fail to understand the role of glue, you are at best, an untrained 'handyman'.
You have much you could learn, but never will unless you can get over your ego and ignorance.
An 'arts and crafts' guy who buys nominal lumber, and doesn't know what a glue-lam is, should be making less statements, and asking more questions.