Thickness for Table Top ??

[Woodey]

MM,
Lots of good information has been shared.

Let us know how your table turns out!

[Planman1954]

If a 1" perimeter board is glued and screwed along the grain of the 2 sides the length of the table, it will remain stable. The 45d joint is under the corners, if the wood is properly dry before construction with a biscuit in the 45, I don't believe it will move. The end pieces should be 2" thick breadboards. That is where movement occurs. There would NOT be a problem. Maybe I'm not expressing my thought clearly.

Guys..I've built projects for 40 years. They are all still intact.

[beenthere]

planman
I trust you know what you are doing. I just am not following what it is, and lose you when you add the 45° joint. How about a pic?
Seems adding thickness like WDH so end grain is seen (no breadboard) would be the safest way to go.

[Planman1954]

Here's a quick drawing...not perfect...but gives you the idea.

 

[Mooseherder]

Thanks for that drawing Planman.
It really helps aspiring woodworkers like myself with some direction.

[beenthere]

Got it Planman.  Thanks

[Axe Handle Hound]

Planman- that's a really interesting way to add a false edge to a table top.  I don't think I've ever seen that approach used before.  If you say that has worked for you before I'll believe you.  I've certainly seen joints before that technically shouldn't work, but ultimately do.  Do you have any photos of a project you've built using this joint?  I'd really be interested in seeing how it looks beyond just the schematic. 

[Tree Feller]

Same here, Planman. If that design works for you, great.

Just a note. We have a Walnut blanket chest in our bedroom and the lid has breadboard ends. The Walnut was dried to 7% MC in my solar kiln and I built the blanket chest almost immediately after moving the lumber to my shop.

I noticed this morning that the breadboards were extending past the top panel by about 3/32" on both sides. I glued the center 1/3 of the breadboard to the 24" wide top and the ends are secured with draw-bored pegs in elongated holes.

I don't know what the EMC inside my home is but it's evidently less than 7% MC in winter because that top panel shrunk. I expect the breadboards will be back flush with the panel by June or so when the panel expands.

The point is that wood moves with changes in RH. I've had some heartbreaks because I didn't account for that movement in my design. Once burned, twice shy.   ;)

[Bogue Chitto]

MM this one is 2 inch top with 4x4 legs.  Son built it last year. 

 

[Magicman]

Thanks to all for the information and as usual, I keep my wagon loaded, and my wagon ain't even red.  Here I am working away every minute of my "spare" time on the Cabin Addition, and I ask about a table.

Yup, when the Addition is completed, "She" said that I would build a dining table which will occupy the existing living room.  The table that we saw in Birch Run, Mi. that I pictured in the OP kinda caught our eye, but I am quite sure that I will leave the board ends because I kinda like that look.  I just may do that WDH trick. 

[WDH]

MM,

It works pretty slick.