Replies

1. 
   ring | Jul 31, 2006 11:01am | #1

   Chris,

   What's not clear is if you are willing to let the joint be visible.  If so, then your biscuits and toggles are fine, but I would make some sort of small reveal (bevel or rabbet) to accentuate the joint and make it clear that it's a design element and not a mistake.  Ideally this element should be repeated elsewhere in the piece as well.  In this case, the placement becomes important, and it should be planned in keeping with the cabinets below.  But if you want to hide the joint completely, you'll need to glue up a substrate (perhaps 3 layers of 1/4" ply) and veneer the 13' long piece as one.  Definitely more difficult this way, but not impossible.

   DR

2. 
   Dave45 | Jul 31, 2006 03:57pm | #2

   If the seam will be visible, I would add another one and space them so they looked like part of the overall design.

   This is how I did it on my desk top.

3. 
   oldusty | Jul 31, 2006 05:58pm | #3

     Chris ,

                  I do as Dave has suggested and place solid stock perhaps 3" wide going front to back at the seams . You said the whole top will be exposed , how about the back ?

            Make the seams fall on a stile or other strategic looking position that looks best . I have slotted the plywood and made tongues on the solid stock and glued and clamped the sections together , then molded the edges .

     A small V groove where the seams are really can add to the beauty of this seam and imo make it look more deliberate .

     I have even covered the bottom with 1/4" material and again stagger the seams.

      Usually on a long unit like this I stagger the depth so perhaps the center is 24 " and the ends may be 22" or the opposite , this becomes a design element and adds visual interest and imo makes it look more like a piece of furniture as opposed to a long box . The depth change becomes the perfect transition place to seam the countertops.

              good   luck           dusty