I have a Mahogany game table and one of the leaves has a slight bow in it and it won’t lie flat on the top. Can I steam that to make it flat?
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I solved a similar issue with a table leaf used periodically by a friend to extend their kitchen table length. The leaf had become so warped that they could no longer get the leaf into position when they wanted a longer table.
The table had been built by one of their relatives who didn't understand wood movement, and it had cross-grain aprons firmly screwed to the 18" wide leaf that prevented the leaf from seasonally expanding. As a result, the leaf warped, even pulling out two of the screws that had originally attached the aprons to the leaf.
I cut several BLIND kerfs, using my table saw, on the UNDERSIDE of the leaf in the direction perpendicular to the aprons (stopping about 1/4" short of the sides of the leaf so that the kerfs would not be seen unless you were looking under the table) to give it flexibility, and then properly fastened the aprons to the leaf with a single screw in the middle and a screw on each end of the apron with a slotted hole in the apron to allow seasonal movement. The 4" wide aprons flattened the leaf when it was attached.
If your leaf doesn't have aprons under it, this of course won't help.
Steam bending a finished leaf might not work well, as the steam needs to permeate the finish to get into the wood and relax the lignin. Even if it does permeate, it could harm the finish.
Even if steam would bring it back, it would dry and curve again. Are there cross rails that are screwed to the bottom ?
Thanks to badger and gulfstar for you thoughts and suggestions. This leaf hinges and lies on the other half of the table when it isn't open so this half is finished on both sides.
In that case, I don't know of a viable solution. Sorry.
I appreciate your comments.
If you're willing to refinish it (and if solid lumber), there may be a couple of options. Simplest is to (with finish removed) wet the convex side with a cloth and put it out in the sun with the concave side up.
If that doesn't work, you can flatten with a hand plane using winding sticks (if the cupping is slight), or rip, joint and re-join before flattening.
one caveat, I've taken this approach with cupped, single boards, not wide surfaces that you are describing. The stakes are lower with lumber...
Unless you are pretty good at refinishing, it may not match the rest of the table very well when you are done. Also, relying on water and the sun to bring it back to exactly flat seems like a long shot.
Planing it will also affect any edge treatment you may have on it.
Ripping it and rejoining it will change the overall shape of the leaf if it is oval and also affect any edge treatment.
If it were mine, I'd probably leave it as is - unless I chose to completely rebuild it by cutting/rejoining the leaf; re-cutting the leaf outline (and the other parts of the top if needed) if it is oval, and also the edge profile; stripping all of the finish off the top; refinishing it; then hoping that it doesn't happen again.
Yah, hoping it won't happen again is a big if, so I tend to agree with you that the pursuit of perfection is probably futile. Thank you for all your comments.
He, just a follow up. I went out to the shop and looked again at the table and leaf and the bow is gone and the leaf lies flat on the other leaf! The shop isn't heated unless I'm working in it so the humidity has corrected the problem. For now.
Just some thoughts; not necessarily solutions. Since the leaf has flattened out while in the shop, this suggests to me that with the leaf folded up and lying on the adjoining table top air circulation is restricted on one side and causing it to warp. Try taking it back into the house and leave it open to see if it stays flat. Give it some time.
If that works, try leaving it open all the time. Or, consider if it is possible to re-design the table top so that the leaf folds down (drop leaf style) rather than folding over onto the adjoining one.
I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions and giving me the benefit of your experience. Thank you.