I am about to make a narrow hall table which will have legs approximately 2 inches square and 34 inches long. It will have a 15 inch deep top with four small drawers. If in making the legs could I use three-quarter inch oak veneer plywood with an MDF core (each leg being a glue up of four mitered 2-inch wide pieces) and expect them to remain straight over time? In addition to the top and drawers, there will be stretchers toward the bottom of the legs.
Thanks in advance for any comments.
Replies
Not such a great idea
I wouldn't recommend MDF core for making legs. The M+T joints with the apron will not be very reliable, and you will also have a problem with the legs wicking up moisture from the floor and swelling as a result. Glue your legs up from 3/4" solid stock.
I agree with David that the MDF ply isn't a good idea for the legs. I would also point out that the thin veneer on the corners would be very vulnerable.
Gluing up the legs from 3/4" stock makes sense if you are trying to have quarter sawn faces all round--there is quite a bit arts and crafts furniture made that way so the flake figure of quartersawn white oak shows on all sides. The effect isn't so wonderful with flatsawn oak lumber, in my opinion.
But, unless that is the case I'd much prefer using rift sawn 8/4 lumber to make the legs have similar figure (straight) on the visible sides, Much less work, and frankly a more solid leg, unless you have really meticulous joinery. It may take more searching to find rift sawn lumber of the right thickness.
Thanks for the "solid" advice. As you suspected, I was trying to save using solid quarter sawn white oak for the legs. And the veneer on the plywood is also quarter sawn white oak that I thought would make attractive legs. But I hadn't thought of the mortise and tenons joints being compromised. Thanks again for all the advice.
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