Desktop - ply or solid oak?

[Dennis Spector]

I'm trying to decide if I should build an office desk with a 3/4 oak ply top or a solid oak top (30" x 5'). Any experiences or words of wisdom will be appreciated... Thanks, Denny

[George Berlinger]

In the past, i,ve use 3/4" base(pine) and nailed hardwood flooring to it (nailed in the grooves) sanding it, and used a poly-finish after i trimmed it out with oak molding. Looks good n is a solid desk on top of base cubboards.....

[Brian]

Recently I've made a couple of cabinets in the Arts and Crafts style and have used 3/4" Oak plywood as the field and banded it with 2" solid oak (biscuit jointed). The reason is primarily that the plywood is much more stable than solid wood that is edge jointed. Once stained and varnished it looks quite good. The only time consuming part is sanding down the banding to exactly the level of the plywood.

[Toller]

Any trick (besides "being very careful") to avoid damaging the plywood when you are sanding down the banding? What do you use?

[KS]

Make a jig for your router to trim the banding down to the surface of the plywood. I use one similar to this one

try one like this

[Carver33]

I'd go with solid oak for the top. Oak plywood only has a thin layer of oak over somewhat softer substrate - won't stand up to much abuse such as hard objects being dropped on it. Also, solid surface can be refinished several times if need be.

Bill

[My Old Tools]

Or use a smooth plane. I use a #4 1/2 to take it down flush. Just take fine shavings.

[jev]

[George]

That problem will be accentuated by rotary peeled plywood, minimized by flitch peeled.

[Brian Elfert]

Wouldn't hardwood flooring expand and contract with the seasons unless you're in the desert? Probably wouldn't be the best thing for a desktop.

I know my hardwood floor has some gaps in it during the winter when humidity is low.

Brian Elfert

[Brian Elfert]

Any real wood desk should have glass or a desk pad for writing on it. Real wood will tend to dent where it was written on.

Brian Elfert

[Edwin Pawlowski]

All wood moves. The trick is to fasten it in such a way that the top can move but will not split. Use clamping dogs into a slot or attach the center only and let the front and back float. I'm not an expert on this so consult a good book or better woodworker for details of how to allow for movement. Ed