breadboard end table

[Dan_Shade]

any of you guys have any tips?

I saw a mention of using a sliding dovetail somewhere, but I have no idea how to make that happen with power tools.  that would be pretty slick to do it that way.

my top is 34" wide, I think i'll do either 3 or 5 tenons.  I have a mortise machine so that part's pretty easy.

I figure i'll use a guide and a circular saw to hog off most of the material along the way for the tenons, and clean everything up with a chisel.

[WDH]

I did breadboards on a blanket chest top using sliding dovetails.  There is a post in this section on it (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=25894.0). 

However, at 34" wide, the approach you are considering should work well as long as the table is free to expand and contract in the breadboard.

[metalspinner]

Mortising both pieces might be easier than trying to get a perfect cut along the tabletop.  Loose tenons glued into the table mortises will be just as strong as cut tenons.

[Dan_Shade]

i figure it would be easier to cut a tenon on a top that's 6 feet long than to wrestle it so that I can make a square mortise....

[metalspinner]

I'm sure it's a lack of technique on my part, but I can't ever get tenon shoulders square all the way around. :-\  That leaves me with a slight gap. >:(   The loose tenon technique has saved me from lots of frustration.

So, what style table are you making?

[Dan_Shade]

a redneck one.

i have a folding table in my kitchen with a really beat up MDF/papered top on it.  I can't complain, i've been beating on it for 9 years.

So i'm making a replacement top of some white oak that I have, and want to put the breadboard end on it for practice.