[Project 32] Bubinga, walnut, cherry bedside table for a friend

[jake28]

Hey Matt, kudos for sharing the work, a couple of notes and responses below.

[member=167]neilc[/member] that sounds like a great idea and [member=69760]Lincoln[/member] thank you for offering suggestions on what to do better.

one of these days I want to build identical furniture - one solid and one with a veneered manufactured substrate (MDF or ply) and see how they differ. I think that would be a really cool visual to show beginner woodworkers like myself to learn easier.

Very good practice and case study, and nice to do because it relies on affordable materials.

I recently learned that wood moves *across* the grain but not *along* the grain - like it won't get "longer" but it will expand and contract from a width perspective. Super interesting to me. I didn't know that until recently.

One way to think of it: imagine a block of wood, removed from a tree, as a bundle of straws. In the tree, the straws in the sapwood move the water from roots to leaves. When converted to lumber, the wood retains its essential structure, it is still a bundle of straws. Straws are relatively easy to compress, crush, or stretch. They are exceedingly difficult to stretch along their length.

 

[bkharman]

One way to think of it: imagine a block of wood, removed from a tree, as a bundle of straws. In the tree, the straws in the sapwood move the water from roots to leaves. When converted to lumber, the wood retains its essential structure, it is still a bundle of straws. Straws are relatively easy to compress, crush, or stretch. They are exceedingly difficult to stretch along their length.

This is a great way to describe this!!  A mate of mine in the past had a very similar description and it clicked!!

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[junk731]

"I recently learned that wood moves *across* the grain but not *along* the grain - like it won't get "longer" but it will expand and contract from a width perspective. Super interesting to me. I didn't know that until recently."

Interesting statement and only slightly applies to "certain" woods that have been kiln dried properly, not subjected to large humidity swings and is not mitered on the corners. While some woods only move minimally on length its quite noticeable on a mitered cut as the pointed tip can pullaway and open the joint because it shrinks more. Keep reading, get a good moisture meter and hope the best with some of your learning.

 

[mattbyington]

[member=72819]jake28[/member] thank you so much for that analogy that is great! thanks for taking the time to write that up!

[member=4907]kcufstoidi[/member] thanks I will keep reading! so much to learn but it is all interesting and I appreciate it.

The table is shaping up!

I need 2 questions for you guys:

1) Votes for a small inlay between the walnut and bubinga on the top?? yay or nay? I was thinking Cherry to separate them out would tie it into the legs but I'm also scared to hack up my nice top!

2) Edge treatment for the top. I was thinking small chamfer on the top and round-over the bottom edge of the top. Thoughts?

Thanks!!

Matt

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[mattbyington]

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[martin felder]

When I saw this thread.... I thought.. Very nice that you are taking the time to make a nice project for a friend, nice attention to detail on the project and the construction of the systainer storage cabinet.  I really have concerns about the wood movement thing.

I have read a lot about that in Fine Woodworking and the Taunton press books over the years.  One way to see sources of info is to Google search "taunton press wood movement".  Around 20 years ago, I made a desk for my then young teenage daughter.  I used the plans from the Taunton Book that came out in 2000 called "Desks".  It was my first bigger project with very limited equipment at the time.
https://www.buildersbook.com/desks-...mOnq8Ub6EFabce0Bm8d7x9ssfXZygC7RoCobEQAvD_BwE

My daughter never wanted it.  She wanted a white Ikea, which she since decided not to keep.  I still have the desk.  Enclosed is a picture I just took. 

The reason I show the picture is that when I made the pull out shelves, so much extra effort was needed to deal with anticipated wood movement.  I found the book and attached some info on that plan. 

Anyhow, just an FYI. Great job!

 

[martin felder]

Oh... the other pictures did not post

 

[mattbyington]

[member=71926]martin felder[/member] thanks so much for the pictures! those breadboard ends looks real nice, I'll have to try that sometime!

Matt

 

[mattbyington]

All done!

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[lshah72414]

As usual Matt, excellent work!
One question, How did you get the angle on the legs? Did you fabricate a Jig?

 

[mattbyington]

[member=62969]lshah72414[/member] thanks so much!!

I actually cheated.... went to Rockler and purchased their taper jig and did them on the bandsaw. My first time tapering anything!

Matt

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[lshah72414]

Thanks Matt