Thread: Red Gum in Houston. How stable?

Originally Posted by LGS

Hi all,

I've been asked to make a hall table about 1 metre long by about 300 wide, to be taken from Melbourne to Houston USA. Houston can be very humid in summer and I have concerns about the timber moving in these conditions. Does anybody know whether I should be so concerned? I'd hate the table to buckle or split. It is to be a reminder of a family's stay in Australia.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

OK, not an expert in furniture, but here goes.

According to Wikipedia, Houston's temperature range is not too different from Brisbane, once you adjust 6 months. The main difference seems to be that Houston gets rain all year round, while Brisbane gets rain mainly in the summer. So I would think that would mean furniture would be less stressed in Houston than here (less change in humidity).

Given the fact the table will likely spend most of it's life in air-conditioned comfort, I'd think the greatest stress would be the several weeks at sea getting it there.

just design and construct it so that it can expand/contract as much as it likes, which should always be done anyway.