diff --git a/stairsplus/api/node.lua b/stairsplus/api/node.lua
index 8920a16..d7a59c5 100644
--- a/stairsplus/api/node.lua
+++ b/stairsplus/api/node.lua
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ function api.register_single(node, shape, overrides, meta)
 
 	if not meta.allow_override_groups and overrides.groups then
 		stairsplus.log("warning", "removing group overrides from %s (was %s, will be %s)",
-			shaped_name, minetest.serialize(overrides.groups):sub(8), minetest.serialize(def.groups):sub(8)
+			shaped_name, minetest.write_json(overrides.groups), minetest.write_json(def.groups)
 		)
 		overrides.groups = nil
 	end
diff --git a/stairsplus/api/recipe.lua b/stairsplus/api/recipe.lua
index b058faf..c5afb2c 100644
--- a/stairsplus/api/recipe.lua
+++ b/stairsplus/api/recipe.lua
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function api.register_craft_schema(schema)
 		error(problems)
 	end
 
-	stairsplus.log("info", "registering craft schema %s", minetest.serialize(schema):sub(#("return ")))
+	stairsplus.log("info", "registering craft schema %s", minetest.write_json(schema))
 
 	table.insert(api.registered_recipe_schemas, schema)
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ local function register_for_schema(node, schema)
 		end
 	end
 
-	stairsplus.log("info", "registering recipe %s", minetest.serialize(recipe):sub(#("return ")))
+	stairsplus.log("info", "registering recipe %s", minetest.write_json(recipe))
 
 	minetest.register_craft(recipe)
 end
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ function api.register_schema_crafts_for_node(node)
 	local shapes = api.get_shapes_hash(node)
 	for _, schema in ipairs(api.registered_recipe_schemas) do
 		if has_the_right_shapes(schema, shapes) then
-			stairsplus.log("verbose", "using schema %s", minetest.serialize(schema):sub(#("return ")))
+			stairsplus.log("verbose", "using schema %s", minetest.write_json(schema))
 			register_for_schema(node, schema)
 		end
 	end
diff --git a/stairsplus/craft_schemas/standard_composition.lua b/stairsplus/craft_schemas/standard_composition.lua
index 226efd6..e6bb893 100644
--- a/stairsplus/craft_schemas/standard_composition.lua
+++ b/stairsplus/craft_schemas/standard_composition.lua
@@ -13,18 +13,24 @@ local valid_slice = {
 	[15] = true,
 }
 
-local promotion = {
+local full_promotion = {
 	micro = "panel_8",
 	panel = "slab_8",
 	slab = "node",
 }
 
+local half_promotion = {
+	micro = "panel",
+	panel = "slab",
+}
+
 local demotion = {
 	node = "slab",
 	slab = "panel",
 	panel = "micro",
 }
 
+-- stack things on top of each other
 for _, shape in ipairs({"micro", "panel", "slab"}) do
 	for _, slice1 in ipairs(slices) do
 		local shape1 = ("%s_%s"):format(shape, slice1)
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ for _, shape in ipairs({"micro", "panel", "slab"}) do
 
 			elseif slice3 == 16 then
 				register_craft_schema({
-					output = ("%s"):format(promotion[shape]),
+					output = ("%s"):format(full_promotion[shape]),
 					recipe = {
 						{shape1},
 						{shape2},
@@ -62,6 +68,24 @@ for _, shape in ipairs({"micro", "panel", "slab"}) do
 	end
 end
 
+-- stack things next to each other
+for _, shape in ipairs({"micro", "panel"}) do
+	for _, slice in ipairs(slices) do
+		local shape1 = ("%s_%s"):format(shape, slice)
+		local def1 = api.registered_shapes[shape1]
+		local shape2 = ("%s_%s"):format(half_promotion[shape], slice)
+		local def2 = api.registered_shapes[shape2]
+		local n = math.floor(2 * def1.eighths / def2.eighths)
+
+		register_craft_schema({
+			output = ("%s %s"):format(shape2, n),
+			recipe = {
+				{shape1, shape1},
+			},
+		})
+	end
+end
+
 -- split in half horizontally
 
 register_craft_schema({