Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Jun 22, 2005 01:53am | #1

   You should be able to find a humidistat fairly easily, but a single reading isn't going to do you much good.  Before you decide that humidity is the culprit, you need to check the table at different temperatures and humidity levels.  If it doesn't move with changes, you probably have a different problem.

   Any chance that mixing the wood species is a factor?  They may be expanding and contracting at different rates.

   None of this is going to help you snap up that cheap check, I'm afraid. - lol

1. 
   silver77 | Jun 22, 2005 10:57am | #2

   Thanks Dave 

   I have a plan for that check for tomorrow: 

   I just need a number right now -say 52%...that would be the perfect humidty for this furniture...and I will recommend that the wood acclimate to perfect - the new humidity levels  for 6 months and also see what the 4 new table clamps do...

   It's wood...the conference room table is a tortion box with several layers of mdf with beautiful walnut veneer vacuum pressed to both sides with a solid wood edge that is expanding at a different rate than the core and causing the gaposis.

   not LOL yet but not SOL either

   silver

    

1. 
   joinerswork | Jun 22, 2005 03:23pm | #3

   silver,

   I'm wondering:

   How long ago did you deliver the table?  In other words, how long has it had to acclimate to the new environment?

   How far away was the table built from where it now resides?  Was the temp/ humidity real different from one location to the other?

   Is the oak edging long grain or a crossbanding?

   Seems unlikely that a torsion box would shrink.

   Regards,

   Ray

1. 
   silver77 | Jun 22, 2005 07:13pm | #5

   joinerswork-

   It's been there for over a year.

   Built within 40 miles of board room.

   Long grain oak edging.

   silver

1. 
   joinerswork | Jun 23, 2005 01:10am | #8

   silver,

   I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon, with John and Lee.  Rejoint the thing and cross your fingers. 

   You've been waiting more than a year to get paid?

   Cheers,

   Ray

2. 
   silver77 | Jun 23, 2005 07:44am | #9

   Not waited a year for money-new contract for more cabinets and the repair is an add on.

   Given the responses, I think I'll suck it up and fix it-no biggie. I thought the humidity was a big deal but apparently not.

   Thanks to everyone for the replies...

   silver

2. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jun 22, 2005 05:00pm | #4

   Silver, there is no such thing as "perfect" conditions. RH and MC really don't matter in and of themselves. What has most likely happened is that the conditions in the board room are different than the conditions in which the piece was built. Once EMC is established within the expected variations in the boardroom you have your "perfect conditions".52% is as good as 90% which is as good as 12% as long as the range remains within reason, say 10% on either side of the seasonal average discounting unusual temporary swings. I'm guessing a climate controlled board room is well within these limits.Here's an EMC table, http://furniturecarver.com/emc.htmlThe proper approach here is to repair the table as it sits. It has acclimated and for the most part quit moving if it's been there for over 6 months. Asking a client to alter their climate control for an object is really not very reasonable unless it's a museum.LeeMontanaFest

1. 
   silver77 | Jun 22, 2005 07:16pm | #6

   Thanks for the perspective Lee-Grindinger...interesting too...

   My hunch was humidity...but I'm with you...it's acclimated- now deal with it...

   silver

2. 
   JohnWW | Jun 22, 2005 09:37pm | #7

   Your problem is probably caused by a design that didn't account for changes in relative humidity, although there can be other causes for shrinkage problems showing up in very large pieces like your table. 

   It is not the client's responsibility to create a perfectly controlled environment for your furniture and in any case ordinary HVAC systems aren't capable of creating steady levels of relative humidity. 

   If you are lucky, the large degree of shrinkage is a one time event brought on by moving the piece from your shop into its new home.  If that is the case, then trimming the edges at the joint to close the gap will solve the problem.  If seasonal swings within the normal range for an office are going to cause the gap to reappear, then the table will need to be rebuilt to allow for the movement.

   John W. 

3. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 23, 2005 08:29pm | #10

   urgent-boardroom humidity level..

   I was just looking at this post again.. I read the title again...

   Boardroom!.. I think it's to much HOT AIR!

1. 
   silver77 | Jun 24, 2005 06:35pm | #11

   I become a Canadian yesterday so I'm going to say

   Right on...we're just givin' er... EH???

    

   hi ho silver the canuck

4. 
   cherryjohn | Jun 25, 2005 03:30pm | #12

   Considering the way some board rooms have "put the wood" to the workers while  granting big retirements and bonuses to thier stooges................. Id say make em sweat!  Make the table out of plywood and sawhorses

   Wicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"