Tabletop questions

If I understand you correctly, your design is certainly not a classic
construction method for a top, and would be more appropriate for a door or
side panel.

That is not bad in itself, because rules are made to be broken ... but in
woodworking there is always risk in doing so.

If you're set on it, you can get away with your design much easier, and with
less movement issues, if you use 3/4" Oak plywood for the panels instead of
wood, particularly if you are looking for a flat table top from edge to
edge.

If you don't do that, you might want to consider a solid wood top, and
forego all "rails"; or a solid wood top with breadboard ends, and forego
your long "rails".

Just my tuppence ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/21/03

"BeerBoy" wrote in message
> Hi there,
> I'm making an oak coffee table and have a few questions. First off, this
is
> my first real project with solid wood and second, I'm not using a real
plan,
> it's from a picture and my own sketches. I thought I'd get that out of
the
> way so you'll know that I don't know much.
> What I'm concerned about is wood movement and how to compensate for it.
> I'll describe it the best I can. The top consist of two long rails going
> across the length and three short rails across the width. Inside of these
> rails will be two panels.
> ____________
> l l l
> l l l
> l _____l______l
>
> It will look sort of like the crude picture above. The rails are all
4"wide
> and the panels (3/4" oak, laminated) will be 12" x 16". The overall size
> will be 3' x 2'.
>
> What is the best way for me to construct this top that will allow for
> movement? Maybe a tongue & groove where the panels float in the frame?
I'm
> open to any suggestions here and appreciate any help you can pass along.