"Karen"
wrote in message
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I do appreciate all the thought everyone has given this.






Thank you,Karen. I wish they were sharper but they are sharp enough to show
that the apron is, indeed, solid oak as I thought originally.

Naturally, dpb now agrees that the apron is solid but asserts that it has a
piece of "bending ply" over it (which would mean it isn't solid oak). That
is certainly possible but I have to ask myself why any manufacturer would
make the apron out of solid oak and then stick a piece of oak veneer ply on
top of it. I could understand - maybe - applying veneer to it but not ply.
For example, if the maker wanted the apron to be "tiger oak" he might have
applied a veneer of that over the apron. (Tiger oak is oak that displays a
distinctive grain due to the way it is cut from the log; because the apron
is circular, it would not be possible to have all of it display that grain
pattern if the apron was sawn out of tiger oak boards; bent, yes, sawn, no).

He also cites the "bright vertical line" as proof of his thesis. Again,
that is possible. It is also possible - probable,IMO - that the "bright
vertical line" is just a reflection from your flash. That edge curves
inward slightly, as shown in your first set of photos. Since it curves
inward, the edge will be more perpendicular to your camera and will reflect
light more than the other areas. FWIW, I was a photographer for more than
50 years.

He also thinks he sees a glue line between the top and its edge molding. I
can't see that. I *DO* see something on the bottom surface of the table
that wraps around to the back edge of the molding but I have no idea what it
is or what purpose it serves. If that is what he sees as a glue line,he is
wrong.

Finally, he keeps suggesting you apply new veneer as a fix. It would be
possible to do that but it would look a fright without a lot of prep work.
The apron has dings and nicks...those would need to be filled/repaired; that
edge with the "bright vertical line" would need work so that it didn't curve
inward as veneer doesn't bend well in that direction and won't bend at all
in two (which you would need). Both the prep work and actual veneering take
a fair measure of skill and I wouldn't suggest it to you.

I wish I could tell you unequivocally how to procede but I cannot; the
photos just aren't sharp enough to be 100% sure. However, you should be
able to tell by close examination of the apron edge whether or not the solid
wood has any kind of facing applied to it. If it has not, make the face
good and varnish; if it has, your best option would be paint. Paint could
look very good there, either painting all of it or just the top part, down
to but not including the kerf, leaving the bottom varnished.


--

dadiOH
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