Please give me your thoughts on this design question. I’m designing a dictionary stand in the style of Greene & Greene in solid cherry wood. The lid of the desk/stand will be 5/8″ thick with bread board ends. My question is this: would it enhance the design if the bottom which is also 5/8″ thick if it was built with breadboard ends?
From a structural point of view it would help with the wood movement problem. I have seen a few boxes and chests with cracked bottoms caused by wood shrinkage.
The stand is 21″ x 18″.
I have spent a lot of time looking but cannot find an example of this approach to solid wood bottoms.
Happy New Year all,
Terry
Replies
terryl,
This may be just a taste thing. Personally I'd put cleats on the underside of the base and incorporate some short feet into their design so the stand can be better balanced if the floor is not flat.
BG,
I should have explained better but the stand will sit on the top of a sideboard.
terry
Feet as in AIR FLOW!
And why not a bottom with expansion 'things' whatever like the top? I see no firm rules with woodworking!
Edited 1/3/2009 9:19 pm by WillGeorge
Will,Yup, your correct about the rules thing in woodworking. I think Terryl was asking two questions: is there a Greene and Greene design suggestion for the base or, if not, what about using breadboard ends for the base. I admire Green and Green but have nothing to contribute relative to design. I probably have even less to contribute on the breadboard question, but I'm picturing a 3/8" expansion and contraction potential and I think I'd want to down play that on the base...ergo, the cleats, recessed in a dado perhaps. Anyhow, it was just two cents worth...I'm trying to help the economy. :)
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