Replies

1. 
   alfie | Dec 11, 2006 12:06am | #1

   For a kitchen table top, I'd go with lumber. Plywood provides a minimal wear surface. If it had to be plywood, it could be coated with many coats of a suitable finish to increase resistance to normal use. Not my preference though.

2. 
   ring | Dec 11, 2006 12:36pm | #2

   SLC,

   Some quick math tells me that you're surrounding each piece of veneer with 3" wide solid oak border, probably mitered at the corners. Then joining all 4 pieces together?

   Use biscuits to join the solid "frames", in order to be as much as possible in one plane. Sand each of the 4 portions (with ROS) individually before you join them together. I would put some kind of slight bevel or reveal at the meeting lines, and not sand any further after they have been joined.

   Your project is totally feasible, although I also prefer solid tabletops.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

3. 
   a_Furnitologist | Dec 16, 2006 04:25pm | #3

   hey S-L-C-

       Nothing wrong with a mix of ply and solids.  As Alfie and Ring mention, you'll need a good protective coat and it won't "wear" as well as a solid top, but it will work.

       Be a bit careful when sanding, look to see if your solids are a bit higher at the glue line or a bit lower and adjust from there, makem use of your cabinet scape.

      Neil

    

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/16/2006 8:26 am ET by a Furnitologist

4. 
   Dave45 | Dec 16, 2006 04:52pm | #4

   This sounds like a real challenge.  Most plywood veneers are so thin that it can be a nightmare sanding the joint between the plywood and the solid wood dead smooth without sanding thru the veneer.  One slip, and you can go right thru the veneer and hiding the sandthrough can be almost impossible.

   It's hard enough working with a solid wood perimeter on a piece of plywood - and you're adding even more potential problem areas.  I doubt if I would be that gutsy - lol.

   Personally, I would go with a solid wood top, or a single piece of plywood with an iron-on edge band.  If you really gotta have the combination of solid wood and plywood, I would get everything cut and dry fit as perfectly as possible, then make a small chamfer on the solid pieces where they will join the plywood.  The chamfer helps "hide" the slight imperfections.

5. 
   sapwood | Dec 16, 2006 08:45pm | #5

   Your main concern is to not sand through the veneer when bringing the solid to its level. So, use minimal sanding. Employ a dado'd spline to align edging and plywood. A spline will give greater accuracy than will biscuits. Keep the solid just a hair above the ply. Then use a plane to bring them to level. I like using a #5 for this task. Set to a fine cut, you can be very accurate and if you do hit the veneer it will only be a kiss. (And hopefully, not the kiss of death.)