How is it done?

Question

Here is a photo of four tables, numbered 1-4

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'm trying to figure out two things. ________________

Number 1 and 4 have no rails and the tops appear to be solid wood (#4 might be veneer but that is unimportant if true).

Tables #2 & #3 also appear to have solid tops; table 3 has end rails; I would guess that table #2 does not. The top of table #3 overlaps end and side rails and is notched around the legs so the legs stand a bit proud of the top.. ________________

My questions are, what's holding the tops to the ends in tables #1, #2 & #4 and how is seasonal wood movement in #1, #2 and #3 being handled? In #1, I could see top clips to handle movement but I can't see that they would make a very strong (non-wobbly) connection of top to sides.

The top of table #3 could be attached conventially (with clips) but what's keeping seasonal movement of the top from pulling the end rails away from the legs since the top abuts the legs?

Thanks for your comments.

Kevin · Accepted Answer

#1, possibly mortised into the top. Maybe with a plate screwed to the top of the legs and then the plate fits into a mortise in the top and is screwed up into it. #2, it's hard to tell with the straight on view #4, spline in the miter

#1, the grain is going in the same direction. There might be breadboard ends on it, it kind of looks like there is but it might just be compression artifacts.

#2, hard to tell. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't take movement into consideration at all.

#3, it's probably edge banded plywood, particle board and is just attached directly to the rails.

-Kevin

SonomaProducts.com · Answer

Looks to me like it is all likely built up of ply, mdf or particleboard and veneered or laminated.

Robatoy · Answer

That's what I think too....

dadiOH · Answer

I think #4 could be, maybe #1 too (though it looks more like it was built up from solid pieces) but not #2 & #3. Number 2 especially looks like solid wood, especially at the end of the small table in the lower left. Hard to tell though, resolution isn't very good.

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