Lee Valley C Channel Table Top Inserts
user-210490
| Posted in General Discussion on
Just viewed their video about these, they are installed cross grain into routed channels. I’ve never used anything like this in the tables I’ve built. Any of you use this? My sense is that this would be useful for tables without an apron to control cupping, but would like to see thoughts on this. Thanks
Replies
Sorry. I'm violating one of my rules for posting. I don't usually post on topics I don't have experience with and I have not used these C-Channels. They certainly would strengthen the table top and have slotted screw holes to allow expansion and contraction. They appear to mostly be made to use with slab tops and/or tables where there is no apron to attach the top to.
In my limited experience with slab tables, I'd say that the chances of warping are minimal if the slab is dried properly. I've made a couple of slab tops. 1. They were dried to the point that warping, cupping, or twisting beyond what is present when I bought them isn't a problem. 2. The first step with any slab top is to get it as flat as possible to remove any imperfections from the drying process.
Having said all of this, if you were making a regular table (not a slab top table) and there was no apron, then I think these might have a real use. Actually I'm glad I read this post because this is exactly what I'm doing now. It's the first piece I've made that doesn't have an apron and my biggest concern is stability of the the 3/4" top over a 5' L X 15" W area. the alternative is installing wood stiffeners, which I considered, but they may be just as subject to movement as the top is.
You'll see a lot of similar hardware used at Blacktail Studios. Unless the scale was pretty large I would not go this way. If the scale got to 48" or so across I would probably look into them.