So, one of my tenants said that they would like a shelf high up on the wall to be able to hang pots and pans off of. I have a butt load of 1 x 6 x 14' oak boards so I cut one up to make the shelf.
I milled the four pieces, 5" wide and 42" long, and cut a slot/dado down the length of each and then milled a spline and glued them up to make a 20" by 42" panel. Should I plan/make allowance for wood movement?
How is this different than a side or back panel of something like a desk, blanket chest, armoire or a table top? I've never built a table but I have read and learned that one wouldn't fasten down the glued up planks but would instead allow for a floating top to accommodate wood movement. The sides or back of a desk, blanket chest or armoire are fixed together while the table top is not. I"m confused about the difference.
For another project, I have five "planks" that are made up of small/short pieces of wood. There are strips, the largest strips are 1 1/2" x 20" and there are small pieces glued up, the largest of which is 3 1/2" x 9". Right now they are glued into "planks, 3 1/2" wide and 40" long. Is the need to worry about wood movement decreased by gluing up smaller pieces?
Could someone safely take a panel, say 24" x 40", made up of small pieces and attach it to something else on all for edges? To use a tangible example, let's say that I was making a torsion box. Could I use a panel made of glued up smaller pieces for the top or bottom?
Thanks very much for any info and advice.