Replies

1. 
   Samson | Mar 10, 2009 07:47pm | #1

   It was a huge mistake to put 3/4 inch thick stock - which will move - over plywood which will not.  But I think you know that now.

   I can imagine a fix where you plunge rout out about half inch of the plywood's width from both long sides.  you can then reattach the 1 1/4 covers to only the 3/4 stock and the maple can move some in and out without cracking off the edges.

2. 
   gofigure57 | Mar 11, 2009 04:00am | #2

     Did you glue the plywood to the maple ?

1. 
   Flash28 | Mar 11, 2009 06:59am | #3

   I talked with the cabinetmaker who made these tables this afternoon, and as far as he can recall, they screwed the plywood with no glue and enlarged the holes to allow for movement.  He guessed that they must not have allowed enough room around the perimeter of the plywood.  That's my guess also.  I think it all boils down to too wide a top to handle too wide a swing in humidity.  If the plywood can be removed, trimmed down, and reaffixed, and the split edge re-glued, then maybe I could find someone local to refinish it with conversion varnish.  We'd be all set aside from needing to manage room humidity better.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 11, 2009 08:50pm | #4

   Sir..

   And I would explain to your Client. Wood is wood and it is like a teenager no matter how old it is at the time.. It WILL do it's own thing! Whenever it feels like doing it!

   I do not think you will be able to explain it but even if everything was made perfectly that large slab of wood may split for it's own reasons and has nothing to do with workmanship! You may need to see if the slab was mounted and where the expansion screws (to the ply) may have been holding it. I'd bet that large of a slab would just rip out the screws and take some of the the plywood with it. Glue a very different matter...

   Just my opinion though.

   As an example, last year.. Not a huge slab of wood but a very expensive 'Hope Chest' that my bride had. It has survived many years up in the attic. Many years of all kinds of temperature and whatever else changes that go on up there. I think it is a LANE? chest. I know it was the best quality. Her father gave it to her and he NEVER bought anything that was inexpensive and not 'top of the line' The front panel gave out and split.. I remember hearing the noise upstairs and I went to see what the noise was... All I can say it had surrived many years up there without a problem.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Mar 12, 2009 06:12am | #5

   Will,Good analogy - wood and teenagers.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   md2453 | Mar 13, 2009 06:33pm | #6

   Will:

   Even better analogy...wood and women.  And I can say that cuz I am one!

   Madison