My lumber is not long enough for my table top!

[forestmount]

My table & benches

Hi Birdhunter
I really like the finish you have used, is this picture recent? If not how long since the last recoat?

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[Birdhunter]

The table and benches have been with the family for about 2 months. They have a 4 year old and a 2 year old, both boys. The tables get a lot of use. They just told me the finish is still beautiful.

The client showed me a picture from Etsy, but I was allowed to use my judgement. She likes the blocky look and I softened the look by running the table boards short wise and not adding breadboard ends.

I do like the Enduro-Var. it dries fast enough so as to not collect dust. I will experiment with the Epifanes. I just didn’t get it right the first time. Probably unwise to try a new finish on such a large project.

 

[HarveyWildes]

I'm surprised that no one has suggested this simple solution - make your lumber go farther by stretching it!  Here are the instructions, although it does require a tool made by DuhWalt rather than Festool.



Seriously, I'm glad that the OP already got reasonable suggestions and decided on a strategy, because this post is obviously not helpful.  Someone who had too much time on their hands came up with this idea .  Enjoy!

 

[mkasdin]

Thank you everybody.    I'm going to build the tabletop using the lumber as purchased -
Matthew

Late in the game as you've decided to make do with what's on hand, which is, of course, not wrong.

But if I were in your situation, I'd only consider one of these two options:

1) Start with the proper length of stock as some others have advised. Not only does it mean meeting the original spec., but it also means less work.

2) Another (less desirable) alternative is to introduce a middle leaf to make the final table longer as planned.

I match grains for appearance and for the purpose of handplaning (in that order of priority). In other words, as long as the boards look good in their composition and, secondarily, the grains run in the same direction, I'm fine. Whether the grains alternate or not is not important to me.

the hardwood floors in your house are Cherry?

 

[ChuckM]

Hardwood flooring: Tigerwood.https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/wood-info/dramatic-beauty-strength-tigerwood/

The leftovers were used for all kinds of projects.