"Toller" wrote in message
...
I built the table below to donate to a charity auction (hopefully it will
bring more than the cost of the wood...). We are storing it our living
room temporarily, and my wife wants another one just like it; only in
mahogany rather than butternut.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~toller/table.jpg

I picked up some 50" "shorts". After making the top and the shelf I will
have some really wide short scraps left over. I could use them to make
the side pieces, so that the grain direction will be the same as the top
and shelf. I realize that they will be much weaker than if the grain ran
the other way, but it would allow me to glue the top and shelf in since
movement would not be an issue. I "think" that would add more strength
than the sides would take away.

What do you think? Cabinets are built that way, why not tables?

Well, I think I agree with dadiOH that it will have adequate strength; but
after looking at other tables and cabinets, I also agree with Mark and Josh
that it won't look right. Grain always runs the long way, but on these it
will run the short way. Since ribbon figure is pretty striking, the effect
will be pronounced.

As a fall back position, how about using botton side pieces perpendicular to
the top, but using the cut off scraps for the top side pieces; gluing the
top down, but letting the shelf float?
There will be no movement between the top and the sides, so that will be
fine.
The top side pieces will have movement of 1/8", but the bottom side pieces
will not move. That will be about a 1 degree flex, but it will be split
between the two sides, so it will be 1/2 degree on each side. Is that close
enough to nothing to not bother the joints? I was planning on gluing and
pocket screwing them.