Thanks..cupping tabletop

[Frank & Renee]

Thanks!!!

I can see this group will be a wealth of information for me! Thanks to all who addressed my post on my cupping tabletop problem. I have been rethinking my glue-up and clamping technique. Is it possible to clamp your pieces too tight, or in such a way that when it dries it causes cupping? Just a thought........ I guess ultimately I may have to cut the table top up into 4 pieces and run it through the jointer and planer again? I did make the top thicker than the plans called for so I do have some room to play with......too drastic?

Thanks to all that helped

Frank

[A Dubya]

Hey Frank,

Before you rip up your table top, there are a few things you can consider.

Solid table tops quite often will cup slightly until fastened properly, taking into account grain direction and movement.

I know a 3/4 inch cup over the width of your top can look discouraging, but don't get too upset.

There a host of different approaches to your challenge. Consider how you are going to fasten it to your table structure. Can it be coaxed flat by your fastening method?

If not, there are a few things to consider before ripping it. Can sliding dovetails, or dados with a rigid piece of stock screwed (with elongated holes for movement) be incorporated along the width of the underside of the top?

Since the design is for yourself (not a paying customer with an approved design), a simple breadboard end design , is not terribly difficult to incorporate and minimizes cupping...

...cupping is always a threat, in solid wood, unless you engineer a method to prevent it, no matter how well or technically correct you joint it.

Cheers, and good luck.

aw