Headboard Question

[Birdhunter]

The headboard I am making will consist of 5 quarter sawn white oak boards. The final dimensions will be 80" by 33". My "clients" want a 1" border along the top and sides of the headboard. I'm not worried about wood movement along the length of 80", but I am along the 33" vertical borders on each side. It's kind of a breadboard look.

What's the best way to attach the vertical border?

 

[Sparktrician]

I vote for Dominoes.  Attach the side pieces last since you'll need to finagle them into place quickly before the glue starts to set up. 

 

[Birdhunter]

If I glue the side pieces on, won't the wood movement be a problem?

 

[Svar]

Do you want your boarder flush with the panel on both sides (tabletop breadboard style), or frame and panel construction, or simple overlap trim such as picture frame?

 

[Birdhunter]

I was thinking about breadboard style but I am open to other ideas. My clients ( a young couple for whom I am making the furniture as a gift) just want the look of a frame around the headboard. The borders were not intended to be structural, just decorative.

 

[Sparktrician]

If I glue the side pieces on, won't the wood movement be a problem?

Given the dimensions you mentioned, I suspect not. That said, I'd use a tight mortise at the top end of the side pieces, and a medium width Domino mortise from there on down to the bottom of the side pieces. 

 

[Svar]

If I glue the side pieces on, won't the wood movement be a problem?

Given the dimensions you mentioned, I suspect not.

It's 33" wide. In my climate a 600 mm maple desk top expands and contracts around 3 mm seasonally. He's got 840 mm. Definitely allow for movement. There is plenty of breadboard build instructions and videos on the web.

 

[Birdhunter]

The idea of one tight and the rest loose doesn't keep the border up against the lateral boards except at the very top.

 

[Jasonj888]

Quarter sawn white oak seems to be almost as stable as plywood - there is very little movement in it. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[Birdhunter]

I think I will do a fixed tenon at the top and use a technique I found on YouTube for the rest of of the border. The guy did a pinned tenon but it had room to slide left to right. Such a technique holds the border piece against the headboard, but accommodates any wood movement. 

 

[Svar]

Here are couple links to estimate what amount of expansion to expect:http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/calculators/calc.plhttp://www.finewoodworking.com/2013/08/29/calculating-for-wood-movement
And here is a graph relating air humidity to wood humidity.
[attachimg=1]

You should plan to have up to 1/4" (+/- 1/8") of movement in a "normal" indoor environment for your quartersawn 33" wide oak board. It will unlikely move that much siting in one place. However, keep in mind that your furniture will last and might be relocated from one house or climate to another. Have your bases covered.

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks for the graph. I think my hybrid design will accommodate that much movement.