"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 05 May 2005 19:11:08 GMT, the inscrutable "BillyBob"
spake:

Thanks all for the ideas - I do realize that 8X3 = 24 and not 25 but the
boards are about 8.5" each.

My main concern is the stability of the top to keep it from warping or
cupping. I will alternate the board grain directions for sure.

My favorite quote from Frank Klausz is "Yes, alternate growth
patterns. That gives you a nice ripple effect when it warps."

I attended a woodworking show a while back and watched a presentation by
Kelly Mehler on wood selection. When the topic of glued-up panels, such as
tabel tops, came up, his opinion is that you choose your layout based on
what looks best. He said that if you glued up a table top and then just
laid it against a wall, well you might get some warping. But things like
table tops are constrained against movement by virtue of them being attached
to a base, which keeps them from warping.

todd