Could anyone tell me which is a better or more common practice: I am gluing a table long on its length and width to cut and flip the edges for the appearance of thickness…should the legs and aprons support the table from this thicker edge or inside it in the recess?
I feel like I’m splitting hairs and turning some gray over this, but my plan calls for them to support the table in the recess with an 1/8 gap between the thickened edge and the legs. I just never thought about whether that was wise or not.
Replies
Go with the plan
Hi,
If I understand your question and design correctly, I would do what the plan recommended. The single thickness will have half the expansion/contraction of the doubled thickness. Not much, but something to consider. The connection between the main top and the apron will be better as well.
The main issue is the expansion and contraction of the top across the grain compared to the fixed length of the apron. My guess is that is the purpose of the 1/8 gap.
Depending on your location, the wood you are using, and expected humidity change from now until winter, I would consider making that gap a smidge larger, like 1/4 to 3/8. I tend to figure roughly 1/4 of contraction per foot of wood between winter and summer, but I live in Minnesota, where the indoor relative humidity goes from 85+ in the summer, to 10- in the winter. More stable wood or humidity would require less compensation for expansion/contraction.
Hey thanks for the advise. As I see it the only two drawbacks to the plan...taking the seasonal movement into consideration and the visible gap between the apron/legs and the thickened edge. And since I don't care about the opinion of anyone that would get on their hands and knees to critique my work, and I can easily make that gap closer to 1/4"...it all sounds good to me!
I also plan on including 2 or 3 stringers connecting the aprons across the width, and this would sure make it a lot easier if the recessed part of the table was already in contact with the aprons.
Yep
A wider gap on the underside will definitely look better than a big crack in the top:)
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