If I could figure out how to do it I'd make this a blog, but I can't so I won't.
and end-grain? avoid cutting up an 8/4×8x10 walnut board needlessly.
The top will be stabilized by 4 2"x4" steel "c" channel inlaid on the bottom side with elongated holes in them and the steel legs as well. Funny thing about the C channel. There is a place in Canada that sells a 40" long 2×1 c channel with predrilled elongated holes for $52 each! I got four 42" ones for $52 at the local steel supply. I have a drill press, a die grinder and black paint!
Somehow I knew the c channel would be the topic of discussion.
I've seen enough people use it like here and here and here that I thought I'd try it. It is certainly worth the $52 insurance policy a few years down the line IMHO. Besides, overbuilding is a thing I do.
But, lest we digress….Anybody got any ideas on how to trim over the end-grain or how to get my inch back?
Why did you bring up the C channel if you didn't want to talk about it?
Anyway, what is the question? I've read it twice and maybe it's the 2 glasses of bourbon impairing my brain, but I don't know what you are asking.
re: "...and end-grain? avoid cutting up an 8/4×8×10 walnut board needlessly."
Why did you bring up the C channel if you didn t want to talk about it?
Anyway, what is the question? I ve read it twice and maybe it s the 2 glasses of bourbon impairing my brain, but I don t know what you are asking.
re: "...and end-grain? avoid cutting up an 8/4×8×10 walnut board needlessly."
Sorry. I brought it up because it is a question about wood movement along the ends of the table and how to avoid it splitting the trim if it moves or if I even need to worry about it. I just assumed that someone would ask about wood movement after the glue-up. Maybe I was wrong.
I'm asking if there is a good method for putting trim across the face of the end-grain (as the customer doesn't like the look of a bread-board style end but likes the trim idea) or if anyone has a better idea of how to get back the 1" that I need for width other than adding in a fifth board and then trimming to 44" total, thus using up a nice piece of lumber that could be used for other things. It's 13 board feet at 11.25 /bf
If I don't have to use the 5th board I can cut it in half and glue up a matching coffee table for him.
So, can I wrap a 3/4" strip of nice contrasting trim around the entire tabletop without it splitting over time? That would accomplish a few things.
1. Saving the 5th board for a matching coffee table that I can sell him (or the start of my long put off Malouf Rocker)
2. Getting me a min of 44" in width
3. Adding what I think will be an attractive accent to the table
4. If I do use the 5th board I can trim the top to 46" and make a faux live-edge
I mean, i suppose you could wrap the 4/4 on the sides of the 8/4, but that kind of defeats the purpose of using the 8/4 IMO. Thats usually a way to make a 4/4 top "appear" thicker from the sides. But then you have that seam right where people are looking and resting their elbows etc. Kind of cheapens the look as compared fo 8/4.
Not unless you live in a very dry climate. Even breadboards don't line up perfectly about twice a year in humid climates. Walnut is a medium grain, I would suggest sanding the end grain very fine, filling, then sanding again, and it will look great. Maybe add an undercut bevel. Ugh, being an inch shy in width sucks. I've added filler strips and don't like the look, unless the grain is straight and blends exceptionally well, it looks half-assed. I've also glued on an extra board and then ripped it down and IMO that's even worse. Every time I've tried to save money on something prominent, the appearance suffers, but maybe you can blend it better than me.
edit, you edited your post while I was typing.
So….Maybe I'm not explaining this well. The top has not been glued up yet. I can rip the 5 milled boards I have into widths to equal 44" with no problem. They are all 10-12" wide now. I'd probably put the 12" one in the middle and add 2 9" on each side then 2 7" boards on the outside to equal 44". I was just looking for a way to salvage the last board is all. My original plan was to use my track saw to add an edge like the one in this video and finish with Rubio Monocoat which is what I think I'll do now that I have mulled it over. My customer (and I too) like this look. I might still be able to get a small coffee table out of what's left.
Should look like this on the underside with the c-channel and legs installed. The c-channel might be overkill but for $50 in materials, better safe than sorry. The customer is 30 and the best friend of one of my sons. I want their families eating at this table 20 years from now.
If it is indeed only 1" or less, try to convince customer that it is what it is. Personally I'd rather have 43" of wide boards than 44" of wide boards plus a tack on piece. Or just trim all the boards down a little to get 44". Ya it's expensive wood but the costumers paying for it, not you. And you can still use it for other things.
Please don't all a trim piece on the end. Nothing looks cheaper/tackier than this.
A back bevel looks nice. Just round over the top side too. More comfortable and will wear better.
I guess go ahead with the metal if you like. IMO it's not doing much. Proper glue ups, and properly milled wood keep tops flat.
If it is indeed only 1" or less, try to convince customer that it is what it is. Personally I'd rather have 43" of wide boards than 44" of wide boards plus a tack on piece. Or just trim all the boards down a little to get 44". Ya it's expensive wood but the costumers paying for it, not you. And you can still use it for other things.
Please don't all a trim piece on the end. Nothing looks cheaper/tackier than this.
A back bevel looks nice. Just round over the top side too. More comfortable and will wear better.
I guess go ahead with the metal if you like. IMO it's not doing much. Proper glue ups, and properly milled wood keep tops flat.
Has to be at least 44" as it is the required dimension of a particular War strategy board game. There won't be any pieces tacked on. It will be symmetrical. I like the idea of the center board being wider than the rest so it doesn't have that picnic table look. The center board will be somewhere between 10 and 12" and the others will be 8 or 9".
Since you're going with the black legs,
Another idea may be to add some 1/4" strips of wenge, or ebony if you could get it,
in between boards to gain your inch.
So, if I am following, the core question is how to avoid end grain on a large top and not have expansion issues associated with covering it. Why not a breadboard end that was designed to accommodate it? Perhaps there is a complexity or a limiting factor I am seeing.
You don't give yourself enough credit, Andy. You do beautiful work.
One option for the end grain would be to do a waterfall-style cut, but instead of going to the floor, it would be only the thickness of the table top. That would leave you with vertical grain, which you might not like the look of, but it would hide the end grain and would move with the rest of the table. It would also be wide (thick?) enough underneath (its width would equal the thickness of the top) to allow you do do your bevel on the underside, which would reduce the area of vertical grain and improve its appearance.
Thanks Rich. Means a lot coming from you. This is my biggest "commissioned" project to date so I'm trying to do everything to make it work without pushing the envelope too far. I think I'm just gonna go with my original plan and use 5 boards divided up symmetrically with the beveled edge. I've kinda got that procedure mapped out in my head.
Thanks Rich. Means a lot coming from you. This is my biggest "commissioned" project to date so I m trying to do everything to make it work without pushing the envelope too far. I think I m just gonna go with my original plan and use 5 boards divided up symmetrically with the beveled edge. I ve kinda got that procedure mapped out in my head.
I think it'll look great, and lots fewer headaches along the way.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
LumberJocks Woodworking Forum
2.5M posts
96K members
Since 2006
A forum community dedicated to professional woodworkers and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!