Joining Timber Slab - Cut into strips or just join wide boards?

[Elill]

I've got some spotted gum slab, longest about 2m, widest about 400mm, all about 32mm thick. I'm going to make a round dining table from it.

I'll be joining with double ply tongues and epoxy.

Should I rip the slab down into thinner (less wide) sections of say 150-200mm? or is joining say a 300mm then a 400mm, then a 300mm, then a 200mm, then a 300mm etc etc ok?

The table will be 1800 round

I've consulted my books, but I cannot find an answer

Many thanks,
Peter

P.S. decided against the veneer option for me new table - can't find anyone to cut it

[mark david]

Hi I would recommend not cutting the boards into thinner strips.
I dont think you need to resort to using epoxy a good pva such as Titebond is more than edequate.
Using splines is not really necessary either unles you will have problems aligning the boards.
Edge jointing alone is usually more than edequate, I havent ever encountered any joint separtaion in any of my work when using that process.

If you do use tongues or splines the grain should run at right angles to the boards or you wont be adding any strength to the joint.



[1QUOTE=Elill;1853922]I've got some spotted gum slab, longest about 2m, widest about 400mm, all about 32mm thick. I'm going to make a round dining table from it.

I'll be joining with double ply tongues and epoxy.

Should I rip the slab down into thinner (less wide) sections of say 150-200mm? or is joining say a 300mm then a 400mm, then a 300mm, then a 200mm, then a 300mm etc etc ok?

The table will be 1800 round

I've consulted my books, but I cannot find an answer

Many thanks,
Peter

P.S. decided against the veneer option for me new table - can't find anyone to cut it[/QUOTE]

[elanjacobs]

Ripping it down will reduce the amount of cupping after it's joined. Also make sure to alternate the curve of the growth rings up and down from board to board when looking at the end grain.
Also, don't use epoxy; you'll get a very noticeable glue line. You don't even need tongues, a few biscuits in each join for alignment will do.