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re: I'm going to be building a farmhouse table soon. Any tips?

Posted on 8/8/19 at 9:42 am to
Posted by Splackavellie
Bayou
Member since Oct 2017
9861 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 9:42 am to
quote:

fishfighter


Listen to this guy.
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36140 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 10:42 am to
Just standard gorilla glue. Or do they have a wood glue?
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
25074 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 11:08 am to
If you use standard gorilla glue you have to wet one side. Just a spray bottle mist is fine. It’s very strong.
The only down side to standard gorilla glue is it foams and you need to wait until it dries to clean it up. But that’s pretty easy

I just use titebond 2 or 3. Have not have a joint failure in the 20 yrs I’ve been doing it.

ETA: The only reason I put that you have to wait for it to dry is that somehow, someway, I end up with it on me every time I use it and it does not come off.
This post was edited on 8/8/19 at 11:11 am
Posted by TigerSprings
Southeast LA
Member since Jan 2019
1588 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 11:17 am to
If you use construction lumber (pine), pay much more attention to contraction rather than expansion. Once it is inside your house, the table top will shrink width wise. If it ever does expand, ever again, it will just go back to the size it was when you built it.
So, your breadboards will always be a little longer than your table is wide. 1/8 to a 1/4 inch on each side.
You may get less shrinkage with the kiln dried, white wood, 2x6s, but those things are like powder to work with.
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36140 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 11:41 am to
Yeah, probably gonna go with tightbond.
Posted by eng08
Member since Jan 2013
5997 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 1:18 pm to
How did you attaché your breadboard ends?
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15252 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 2:41 pm to
quote:

Pipe clamps will close a 1/4” or less gap easy. But then your boards will be out of square on the sides slightly.


If you wind up with 1/4 inch gaps between the boards you're using to make the top, you didn't do a very good job using the jointer/planer to get the boards square and true in the first place.

You don't want to have to clamp the wood so tight that you could wind up squeezing out too much of the glue you're using to hold things together. There is such a thing as too much pressure when gluing up.
This post was edited on 8/8/19 at 2:44 pm
Posted by LSUtiger09
Member since Dec 2009
749 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 4:43 pm to
quote:

One is expanding width wise while one is expanding lengthwise. If you use tight connections the chance of cracking is great.


This is all dependent on where the table will reside in the years to come. If the table will be in a climate controlled environment, you do not have to worry about anything moving over time, once it is finally acclimated to its environment.

Homes up north rarely have A/C units so the temperature changes daily. This is why the breadboards are only secured in the middle and left to free float on the ends.

I built a farmhouse style table with breadboards 2 years ago, it maybe move 1/16" of an inch. I used pine for mine because I have small kids and they will destroy it anyway, and I figured when they get older I just just replace the top with a hardwood. I also used Titebond III and pocket holes to join everything
together.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
25074 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 4:59 pm to
quote:

If you wind up with 1/4 inch gaps between the boards you're using to make the top, you didn't do a very good job using the jointer/planer to get the boards square and true in the first place.


You use a jointer to get one edge and one face flat and square. Then use the table saw to have the other edge parallel to the squared edge. Then run it through the planer.

If you have gaps after that, then something is not set up correctly or you’re doing something wrong.
This post was edited on 8/8/19 at 5:00 pm
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15252 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 6:22 pm to
quote:

You use a jointer to get one edge and one face flat and square. Then use the table saw to have the other edge parallel to the squared edge. Then run it through the planer.


Yep, that's how it should be done. But there are those that don't have that knowledge and think just running it through a table saw will suffice or running a hand plane along the edge will smooth the edge out enough for gluing. It not only needs to be flat and true, it also needs to not have any cups in the length of the board.
This post was edited on 8/8/19 at 6:34 pm
Posted by BeerThirty
Red Stick
Member since May 2017
903 posts
Posted on 8/8/19 at 7:30 pm to
I used gorilla wood glue for mine, but pocket holes too. I purchased 6 cypress boards, 8-10’ by 2” from Brazos in denham for less than $200. They will run one side through the joiner for you as well. Mine was a pain in the arse (my first) but it came out fantastic. Wife loves it so I’m good.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 8:05 am to
quote:

Acclimate it in the house or in the garage where I'm gonna build it?


If you can, this is ideal. Moisture in store bought lumber can be as high as 13%. A house moisture level with ac running is around 6-8%. By keeping the lumber under ideal conditions, it will take around 3 months to get the store bought lumber down to the lower moisture level. That is for 1 1/2" stock. Thicker= longer.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 8:10 am to
quote:

If you use standard gorilla glue you have to wet one side. Just a spray bottle mist is fine. It’s very strong.


I use a damp rag. The good part about using it is that it does form up after drying. Cleans up very easy and once sanded, it will take any kind of stain. It also acts as a filler too!
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 8:13 am to
quote:

How did you attaché your breadboard ends?


Wood pegs. They float.
Posted by ducksnbass
Member since Apr 2014
754 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 8:30 am to
A good wood glue like Titebond will suffice for gluing the top. It will actually be stronger than the wood once it's cured. If you don't have a jointer, you can use a hand plane to square the edges and fit the boards together. It takes time to do it right but it can be done.

Yes, only glue the joint in the center of the breadboard end. You should still put a dowel through the mortise and tenons of the other joints but leave a small slot in the tenon to allow the dowel to move side to side.
Posted by eng08
Member since Jan 2013
5997 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 9:51 am to
Glued from the bottom? Can you please post a photo?
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 10:35 am to
quote:

Glued from the bottom?


Yes, just the two center boards. Outside boards float.

Sorry, no pictures. The table is at my daughter's house. Had built that table over a year ago and SIL did the finishing. Last time over for dinner, the table had no problems or movement.

Oh, on a side note. All the lumber came off my sawmill. Was air dried for over a year. Moisture level was at 9%.
This post was edited on 8/9/19 at 10:38 am
Posted by eng08
Member since Jan 2013
5997 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 11:26 am to
Ok thanks.
Posted by jojothetireguy
Live out in Coconut Grove
Member since Jan 2009
10486 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 2:38 pm to
We just bought that exact table in the picture. Guy did good work. I did go with a true 2" thick top though. So that would be my advice, don't use 1/2", go with a true 2" or thicker top
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/9/19 at 4:00 pm to
quote:

We just bought that exact table in the picture.


What y'all paid for it?
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