Hello everyone how are you? I’m going to make a conference table for my work, and was wondering what your thoughts were about glueing a subtop under the finished table top. I’m a little bit nervous about warping when the glue dries and am thinking about just screwing the subtop to the main table top instead. It’s going to be 8ft long, and 4ft wide on 1 end, then 30″ wide on the other. The finished top is going to be 3/4″ bamboo, and it’s pretty expensive, so I want to make sure it stays straight as possible. What do you think? Thank you
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I'm not familiar with the expansion/contraction characteristics of bamboo or whether it is more or less susceptible to warping. However, I think that a sub top would be more work and expense and added weight than is necessary. Also, what will keep the sub top from warping? I would just build the table the traditional way with a substantial apron and cross members perhaps on 24" centers. Then attach with a liberal number of Z clips or figure 8 clips. You should be fine.
If you do decide to use a sub top, you will need to fasten each one the same as above. Unless it is plywood or MDF, you will need to fasten the sub top to allow for movement. Then you will need to fasten the bamboo to the sub top to also allow for movement. Do not glue the bamboo to the sub top regardless of the material used.
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