Hey everyone.
I’m making tabletop games using 1/4” flatsawn maple and walnut, the games are about 5” x 5”. I was wondering what is the best way to glue the faces together to restrain movement, should the grain of the maple and walnut go in the same direction or should they be perpendicular like in a plywood? And when gluing the two faces together, should the annual rings be facing each other or not, or in the same direction?
I understand that there will always be movement and that it varies with the humidity of where you live, but just trying to minimize them and optimize the longevity of the piece.
Thanks for your help!
Jonathan
Replies
I really don't think it matters. There's no strain on these pieces, they bear no load. It seems to me if you glue them however they look best, the top pieces are essentially free floating and they will expand and contract at will. The bottom piece has no constraint on the edge, so it will also expand width-wise at its own pace.
If the base board is 2 layers run the grain of the layers the same way. Opposing ring directions could reduce the potential for cupping. You might as well alternate them since the bottom will never be in view.
Thanks for your advice
On parts that thick, have the grain running in the same direction, for sure. Orientation of the rings won't matter -- choose whatever looks nicest.
Thanks thanks that’s what I’ll do
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