On Sun, 1 Aug 2004 18:43:12 -0500, "RonB" wrote:

As I noted in response to Jay above, I am having trouble with cupping not
being a factor even when restrained as a table top. My thinking (right or
wrong) is that an 8/4 slab of oak might be able to generate enough cupping
force to damage itself as well as table structure.

absolutely. you have to use some common sense. the skirts of the table
can help to hold the top flat, but it would be ridiculous to expect
for instance a 3/4" x 3" stick to restrain an 8/4 top that really
wanted to twist around.

you can estimate the capacities of the parts and what they will do in
opposition to each other. set some blocks a distance apart and span
them with the part in question. apply force in the center and note the
deflection.

the thing that makes a table stay together is getting all of the wood
to a decent moisture content and milled for stress relief before
assembly, not forcing it to dry straight after assembly.




Again - any one else have experience with this.

Ron