This is restoration question rather than a finishing question…. I have an english chest of drawers with a top of cathedral/flame mahogany veneer. The substrate is pine — 1/2 inch thick. The veneer overlaps 3/4-inch wide olding on each edge,  which runs front to back — in other words, there  its crossgrain construction. The movement of the top, which was not veneered or finished underneath, caused the veneer along each edge to lift and shatter. Adding a wide edge banding will replace the ruined veneer along the edge, bu seasonal movement will continue to cause problems. Short of completely remaking the top, are there any tricks I might try to control the movement of the top to prevent ruining the new edge banding, or to attach the edge banding in a way that would allow it to move somewhat across the top of the side molding (it overlaps the molding and approximately 1/2 inch of the top)? I’ve seen a number of english pieces with this type of construction, but can’t find any suggestions for how to deal with it in my library, or on net. And help is much appreciated.

Skip Taylor