Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Nov 06, 2006 07:09pm | #1

   Your friend's suggestion may have merit -- if you are making the table out of something other than solid wood and orienting the grain perpendicular to the leaf. If you are using solid wood, you'll need to orient the grain paralel to the joint. In that case, just lay out the boards for the top so you have a pleasing grain pattern as a first step -- pretty much what you would do anyway.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   velomark | Nov 06, 2006 11:57pm | #2

   Mike:

   Thanks.  My intention is to use solid wood (probably red oak) for the top and to glue the boards up so that the grain runs lengthwise.  After the top is glued, planed and sanded, are you suggesting that I cut the piece for the drop in leaf from the middle of the top? 

   Thanks againCheers,

   Velo

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Nov 07, 2006 03:38pm | #3

   I wouldn't make a table leaf where the grain runs perpendicular to the length of the leaf. If you are making a table with leaves, you need to orient the boards so they go side to side, perpendicular to the sliding rails, not end to end paralel to the rails. Otherwise, you'd end up with a leaf with the grain running perpendicular to it's length -- not stable or strong enough for a table leaf.

   What I am suggesting is that you lay out your boards to take into consideration which side should be up, grain direction (all going in one direction, if possible), grain pattern and, if you care, annular ring patterns. (Some WWers prefer to alternate ring patterns, some like to keep them all facing the same way -- I usually don't worry about it.) Once you have the stock arranged to your satisfaction, mark them so you assemble the piece the same way you layed them out.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   gmcnabb | Nov 08, 2006 03:55am | #4

   Had a simular but unusual problem.....My darling wife of 18 yrs and the 2 kids went and adopted a pound puppy. Love the dog, but he came close to being a memory when he ate my wife's engagement/wedding ring set. We replaced it with a cheap copy with which she was fine with...until she started to notice how much money my shop was worth. Needless to say, she brought it up every time I got anything for the shop (even sandpaper.) I did the only thing that a loving husband could do....went out and laid down a mint on a new ring set for the wife. I haven't heard a word about the tools in the shop since....well that's not exactly true. She came to me the other day and annouced she wants to get into pottery. I looked up the cost of get a wheel and a Kiln and its more than what's in the shop by almost double.  Sometimes you just can't win so get a think skin.