Hi all,
I’m hoping you can solve another cabinet construction quandry. The entertainment center will consist of two identical plywood carcases, one stacked on top of the other. On the very top, there will be a panel of solid wood with an over-hang. The question is, how to attach the solid wood top to the plywood sub top? Do I need to allow for cross grain expansion of the solid wood top? Should I consider a different design all together? I was thinking of essentailly a plywood box using tongue and dado joints.
Thanks,
Darren
Replies
here's one thing you can do. Put 3/4" x 3/4" strips inside at the top sides onto the plywood carcass. Use glue and screws to fasten the strip to the sides. Drill 3 holes down through the top of the strips about 3/8" diameter. Then put screws, with 1/2" washers up from the bottom into the solid wood. Center the screws and washers on the 3/8" holes. Just tighten the screws hand tight. The oversized holes will allow the solid wood to expand/contract. You can counter sink the 3/8" holes on the bottom to hide the washers.
I'm assuming you'll have a face frame that will hide the end of the strips from view.
Will there be a plywood top on the base portion? If so, then forget the strips and drill the holes in the plywood top.
Or, could you just use plywood for the base of the top unit and then use hardwood trim to hide the plywood?
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
I have just emerged from my think tank (the shower) with an idea. If I screw and glue hardwood dovetail keys to the plywood sub top then route dovetails in the bottom of the solid top, I can have solid, hidden attachment which allows near infinite cross-grain wood movement. Have I out-smarted myself? It wouldn't be the first time.
Darren
That could work and would certainly be unique! Lotsa work though. Would the dovetails hold if the entire unit was picked up by the top?
One heavy screw in the middle ends on both sides would work too. That would pin the center but allow both front and back to expand/contract. Or, two screws on both ends centered and about 3" apart for more strength.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
>> Would the dovetails hold if the entire unit was picked up by the top?
It would if the tails were on the sides and the pins on the top.
Lots of good ideas here. A couple of simple solutions would be to use Figure 8 or button type table top fasteners.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
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