Construction Question

[lscraig]

Question: I am making a 32x60 dinette table for some newlyweds. The top is 1 in thick furniture grade white pine. Would you put breadboard edges on either end? Or would you leave it end grain showing with strong backs underneath?

[ajkoontz]

Breadboard ends for sure, but only for aesthetic reasons. I like the look, and I think pine especially looks better with this treatment.

[Gary G™]

Breadboard ends for me

[jteneyck]

Depends upon the look you're after.  There's no wrong or right.  Breadboard ends will help keep the top flat, but no more so than strong backs underneath.  A downside of breadboard ends is they will only ever be flush with the field of the tabletop twice a year.  Otherwise, it will be longer or shorter, depending upon the humidity.  With the breadboard ends I've made, I intentionally made them longer than the field so they will cover the ends of the field even during the period of highest humidity.  

John

[Bill Holt]

Breadboard ends for sure, but only for aesthetic reasons. I like the look, 

Ditto

[lscraig]

Thanks everyone.  I think I'm going with strong backs underneath.  I have built the table tops both ways.  I want a clean look and dont really care for the end of the BB end being longer or shorter than the slab for most of the year.  I will put some strong backs with figure 8's under the top to keep it from smiling at you over time.