Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Hickory Dining Table

  1. #1

    Hickory Dining Table

    I started on my biggest project to date, a hickory dining table. It'll be 4×6' without its leaf, and 7.5' with it. Both halves and breadboards are ready for tenons/mortises but I'm trying to decide what looks best: sapwood out or heartwood out. Thoughts?











    https://two-bit-woodworker.blogspot.com/

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Clarks Summit PA
    Posts
    1,733
    Heartwood out - it outlines the table nicely, creating a border.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    3,739
    I like it with the sapwood in. Don’t really think you can call it breadboard ends more like bread board sides.
    Are you sure you want to add that much long grain to the end grain.
    Hickory is pretty powerful wood and will not let you slide if you make a mistake with your jointery.

    Good
    Luck
    Aj

  4. #4
    Each top piece will be 3 feet by 4, with the breadboards going on the 3 footer. The full 6 feet won't have to move.
    https://two-bit-woodworker.blogspot.com/

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    McKean, PA
    Posts
    15,595
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Susco View Post
    Each top piece will be 3 feet by 4, with the breadboards going on the 3 footer. The full 6 feet won't have to move.
    Even with just 3 feet, if you don't allow for seasonal moisture movement you will end up with a split, possibly several, in your table surfaces. I made two hickory dressers that I didn't adequately allow for seasonal moisture changes and all four end panels split, they were only about 18" wide. The pop when they split was so loud we could hear it from the next room.
    Last edited by Lee Schierer; 01-31-2020 at 10:44 AM.
    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
    Go Navy!

    My advice, comments and suggestions are free, but it costs money to run the site. If you found something of value here please give a little something back by becoming a contributor! Please Contribute

  6. #6
    Right, that's the point of the breadboard ends. The table top will be tenoned, and the breadboards mortised. The mortise at the center of the table will be snug, but they'll get looser to allow for the movement as it goes out towards the ends of the table.

    I'm just mocking up the final look for thoughts on grain direction, I haven't done any of the joinery yet.
    https://two-bit-woodworker.blogspot.com/

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    668
    I like the sap on the outside. That hickory looks nice, much better than the rustic grade I'm used to seeing.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,582
    Light wood on outside, all the way around IMO

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Lafayette, Indiana
    Posts
    1,378
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Rainey View Post
    Heartwood out - it outlines the table nicely, creating a border.
    +1 the darker heart wood frames the panels and the eye is drawn in by the lighter sap wood. The sap wood on the outside does not create as stark of a border as the heart wood.

    I am a big fan of the look of hickory though it is not the easiest of materials to work with. I think your table is going to be stunning.
    Last edited by Joe A Faulkner; 02-09-2020 at 8:17 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Austin Texas
    Posts
    1,957
    I like the darker outline too. I have worked with lots of pecan (very, very similar to hickory) and can testify to it's unforgiving nature when it comes to joinery. It is hard on chisels and tennon saws. The grain can be very striking. I don't know exactly why, but I am not a fan of running the table top boards crosswise as you are planning, but it is your table (not mine) and I imagine it will come out just fine. Thanks for sharing.
    David

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,688
    Sap out for me. More natural looking.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  12. #12
    Dave, did you ever finish this?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •