Thread: Idea for a table - Comments Please

Have you thought about using veneered chipboard/MDF?
Just edge it with real timber to cover the chipboard/MDF.
Nice flat top, easy to do

Sprog

Before you discard the bowed pine panels, have you thought about planing them flat? You can do this with either a hand plane or a router.

Regards from Perth

Derek

When I was at school, I did a chess board. I joined 8 pieces of alternating jarrah and light wood (can't remember what it was). Glued it up. This was before biscuits. When dried, I did 9 cross cuts. This gives you the appropriate number of pieces that are alternating colours. Shift each alternating board up 1 timber width and this gives you the chequer board look. Glue these up and when dry cut off the end bits. Don't forget when to allow for the width of the saw cut when doing the cross cuts, otherwise your peices won't be square.
Does this make sense?

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Sprog

Before you discard the bowed pine panels, have you thought about planing them flat? You can do this with either a hand plane or a router.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek

It is not me with the bowed panels

Smidsy, I'd add to Derek's comments about not throwing the pine top out. 3mm over the width of a table is not much bend. Why dont you consider putting a couple of braces along the bottom - across the width of the board. These will have the effect of pulling the board flat. Just make sure you allow for seasonal expansion/contraction of the top, which will occur across its width regardless of whether it is noticeable or not. One way to do this is to screw the braces on, but using slots not screw holes, and doing the screws up tightish but not real tight.

Of course it may be hard to hide the braces from view - depends upon the design.

Arron

Maybe the bow is too much, and maybe you will have to plane it flat.

But you must try something first. Get a damp/wet towel or two. Put the glued-up panel on top of the towels, concave side down. Then put the whole thing in the sun. The moisture is drawn up, moistening the concave side (and expanding it) whilst drying out the top (convex) side and contracting it. I'll bet a carton of beer that before long it is bowing the other way. Warning: it might not take long! An hour or two maybe depending on how much heat gets to it.

Now, what you do with it after it is flat is your business ...

I had a similar situation last year. After I got my panel flat I made sure I kept it out of the sun and in a place with relatively constant temperature and humidity. Then after I finished the job I made sure I sealed it well, and it stays inside anyway so isn't subject to the same temperature changes as it was in my shop. It still moves a bit, but nobody notices except me.

ICR