Replies

1. 
   Julmer | Dec 07, 2008 05:53am | #1

   Jay C,

   Generally quartersawn white oak is the preferred and premium selection for tabletop/exposed use. It's grain pattern can be stunning (tiger stripped) but is not guaranteed. If buying rough sawn, you might to skim plane your stock to reveal best grain and/or match for the table top. Stability is also better than flat sawn.

   Lots more I could add about this issue, but that's the quick answer to your question

    

    

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Dec 07, 2008 07:03am | #2

   As a matter of personal preference,  if you use some quartersawn on the top it should be all quartersawn, preferably with very similar fleck pattern all across.  This aesthetic is found in other areas of Arts & Crafts furniture, where some square table legs are made by gluing up the legs so all four surfaces are quartersawn.  Of course this table is in Regency style--not a style you would expect to see in oak.  You might seek out some more Arts & Crafts detailing that would be in particular keeping with oak.  But there aren't rules--I'd just talking about personal opinion, worth just what you are paying for it.