Keeping a desk top flat
#18
Many of us have quite a bit of experience and different ways of doing things successfully. I'm sure it'll turn out great no matter what you decide to do. Hope you post pics when done.
Reply
#19
If you mill the hickory square and true and finish both sides equally and it’s not in a location which gets extraordinarily more humidity on one side versus the other, there’s no reason it should warp over time.
A 6’ long table isn’t that big.
Gary

Please don’t quote the trolls.
Liberty, Freedom and Individual Responsibility
Say what you'll do and do what you say.
Reply
#20
(12-21-2019, 08:51 AM)Gary G™ Wrote: If you mill the hickory square and true and finish both sides equally and it’s not in a location which gets extraordinarily more humidity on one side versus the other, there’s no reason it should warp over time.
A 6’ long table isn’t that big.

That's what I think also.  My dinning room table is just a little bigger than that and it's been flat for 25 years.  You don't have to put a lot of fasteners on it. 

I do have to ask - are there aprons on this table?   If not there should be - they are important. 

My top you can actually move about 1/8 inch  side to side and end to end.  So I have no issue with wood movement.  I used small clips that hook into a grove in the apron.
John

Always use the right tool for the job.

We need to clean house.
Reply
#21
(12-21-2019, 08:51 AM)Gary G™ Wrote: ...there’s no reason it should warp over time...

It is not warpage the OP is concerned about, but sagging.
Wood is good. 
Reply
#22
Hickory should not sag noticeably over 36” unless it’s got tons of bricks in the middle. The Sagulator says .001/ft with a normal load—that’s totally negligible.
Gary

Please don’t quote the trolls.
Liberty, Freedom and Individual Responsibility
Say what you'll do and do what you say.
Reply
#23
I’ve built a few tops this deep albeit at most about 5 feet long. Almost 15 years for the oldest one.

Breadboard ends on the two largest. Used figure 8 fasteners to attach to base cabinets. Tops were red oak and an inch thick.

No warping. We’re glued up from roughly 5” wide boards.

No angle irons.

Personally I think the look of a breadboard top is great, especially if the tenon shows.

Mike
Reply
#24
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the response. The top is glued up, and after sanding is 11/16 thick (started at 3/4). I have built up the edges to about 1 5/16. Now that I'm dealing with it 'in real life' as opposed to in abstract, I think using some 3/4 ply and slotting for the screws will be sufficient - maybe even unnecessary- but better to ere on the side of over-built. This is part of a duo project, a desk and a bookcase for a customer. Fortunately no push to get it done for Christmas!
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

Product Recommendations

Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.