Tanus wrote:
I'm rebuilding a small old desk/table that was given to us. A short
refinishing job turned out to be a full dismantle, plane to bare wood
and rebuild from component parts.

Four legs, 2 sides and a back and some front cross pieces make up the
carcase, with the front left mostly open. I've cleaned up the sides and
back and reglued them into the mortises in the legs.

On top of the legs sits a rectangular frame that is m/t joined together
and was originally nailed to the legs. I'll screw that on to the carcase
to hold it firmer. The table top, which measures about 3' by 20" is
screwed from underneath with 6 #10 screws.

Are those screws enough to hold the top to the frame? Or would it make
more sense to glue and screw the top to the frame? If I glued it, would
wood movement be a problem in a top this size? The top is three
laminated pieces of beech that are about 3/4" thick.

Thanks for any thoughts or ideas.

Tanus

The answer is YES. That top is so small that you
shouldn't have to worry about wood movement. If
it really worries you, make the screw holes
through the frame large enough that the screw can
have a small amount of movement and then just
tighten the screws.

The top of my 20" by 4 foot computer desk is held
on by screws (top is 3/4 oak plywood). I also
have a 30-3/4" x 4 foot desk which has the the two
file ends (essentially boxes with drawers)
attached to the 3/4" top by screws. Both are solid.

I am happy that I made the latter with a
detachable top, otherwise moving it around some
corners and through 30" doors would be a real pain.