Dennis McDonaugh
07-11-2016, 9:42 PM
I'm replacing the table in our motor home, it was a solid surface table top with a leaf. The original parts were all plywood with the solid surface bonded to the plywood substrate. The previous owner broke the leaf and had a new one made, but it didn't match the original material.
I'm making a new top out of solid cherry to match the existing cabinets. I pretty much ignore wood movement in things I build that are going in a climate controlled environment and haven't had any issues in 40 years of making things out of wood. However, the motor home goes from very hot and humid when not in use to cool and dry when we're traveling in it. I'm pretty sure movement is going to be an issue.
Here's a picture of the underside of the table. I'm eliminating the leaf so the table will just sit on top of the existing base which is attached to the wall with brackets and has one pedestal leg.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/3F9B8684-274A-4B27-8941-8B5DA89179BB_zpsuvjornpm.jpg
The base is a 3/4" ply with a dado in it to guide the old top as it extended. The top had a couple long cleats screwed to the inside of the apron to capture the plywood base. I plan to use the same method to attach the new top.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/4E77C75B-9C8F-497B-B4F6-13FFF6F14162_zpswv634pzn.jpg
I am thinking about gluing about 2/3 of the long apron sides to the bottom of the top. The grain would run the same direction in the top and the apron. Then, I'm planning to allow for movement of the top by putting grooves in the short apron and using metal tabs to hold it to the top. How does that sound?
I'm making a new top out of solid cherry to match the existing cabinets. I pretty much ignore wood movement in things I build that are going in a climate controlled environment and haven't had any issues in 40 years of making things out of wood. However, the motor home goes from very hot and humid when not in use to cool and dry when we're traveling in it. I'm pretty sure movement is going to be an issue.
Here's a picture of the underside of the table. I'm eliminating the leaf so the table will just sit on top of the existing base which is attached to the wall with brackets and has one pedestal leg.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/3F9B8684-274A-4B27-8941-8B5DA89179BB_zpsuvjornpm.jpg
The base is a 3/4" ply with a dado in it to guide the old top as it extended. The top had a couple long cleats screwed to the inside of the apron to capture the plywood base. I plan to use the same method to attach the new top.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/bmcdonau/4E77C75B-9C8F-497B-B4F6-13FFF6F14162_zpswv634pzn.jpg
I am thinking about gluing about 2/3 of the long apron sides to the bottom of the top. The grain would run the same direction in the top and the apron. Then, I'm planning to allow for movement of the top by putting grooves in the short apron and using metal tabs to hold it to the top. How does that sound?