bob prohaska writes:

One curious thing (to me) is that many of the plywood panels in drawer
bottoms and pedestal sides appear to be free-floating in their rabbets.
Seems that the desk would be much stronger if they were glued in place.
Did they just come loose over time?


The panels are supposed to float because they expand and contract
with changes in humidity. If they were glued in place, they'd crack
or blow out the cope&stick mortices. Now generally, that only
applies to solid wood panels, but it doesn't hurt to leave plywood
panels floating.