Overcomplicated top

[WDH]

The desk is made of cherry that I harvested from my property.  I sawed it on my sawmill, air dried it, and acclimated it for use inside.  For the finish, I used Danish oil because I like the way it enhances the beauty of cherry.  Then, I topcoated with varnish for protection.

Flip, the top does not have breadboard ends and the top is flat.  Breadboards can be a nice touch depending on the style, but they are not always necessary unless you want to hide the end grain in my opinion. 

[Patty]

What does it mean to breadboard the ends?  ???

[SwampDonkey]

I think what he means is the cut a thin (1/8 or maybe 1/16 inch wide) along the length of a board to show flat grain instead of end grain of the boards. I've done it before for covering up plywood edges. You can buy those plastic things or a tape with a grain pattern also. What I did was use a lighter or darker strip than the piece I was covering, just for contrast.

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Actually, it means to do like a wide mortise and tenon. You dado the top and bottom edge of the table piece and slot the "Breadboard" piece, which is the same thickness as the top, so it fits over the dadoed ends. It hides the end grain and keeps the top from separating, a little.

  Gives a nice neat rounded edge.

  I think one of Larrys cutting boards had the breadboard edge ???  Maybe not ??   ;D ;D

[SwampDonkey]

Works either way, but FD's would be a lot stronger. Although, I never had one of mine separate.

[WDH]

Patty,

A Breadboard end has grain direction that is at a 90% angle to the grain of the top, a cross-grain situation.  The top has to be free to move from seasonal moisture changes, so the breadboard end cannot be glued to top along the entire length or the top cannot move and it will split.  Takes some engineering.

Like Fla_deadheader says, a tongue milled into the end of the top could fit into a groove milled into the breadboard so the two could fit together.  You could also use a sliding dovetail along the end of the top fitting into the mating dovetail groove in the breadboard end, but that is much more complicated to do on a wide top.  However, definitely stonger.  That is how I did it on a blanket chest that I recently made.



The breadboard is attached to the end of the top and forms the lip of the chest lid on that side.



From the back, you can see the the how the dovetail on the top slides into the breadboard end.

[SwampDonkey]

I've got to get me one of those Lee dovetail jigs some day. I've used those plastic template ones and they are crappola.

[WDH]

Swamp Donkey,

The Leigh D4R is the way to go in my opinion.  There are other jigs and cheaper jigs, but the Leigh gives the most flexibility.  I like the 24" model because it is large enough to do a 20" high chest.  Most all jigs on the market cannot handle a 20" panel which is the height I want to make the chest carcass.  At about $450 for the jig, you could pay for it with just a few chests.  I have 3 daughters.  The walnut chest is for the oldest.  Now I am building one out of cherry and one out of cedar for my other 2 daughters.

[Patty]

I have seen those edges, I guess I didn't know what they were called.

That is a beautiful chest, WDH. Very nice joinery. 

[Mooseherder]

I made this desk for my oldest daughter a few months ago. Actually made 2, but this one came out better than the second. Youngest didn't want the side rails on hers. (Now she does) I am not far advanced enough to tackle drawers yet but there is a shelf underneath that holds computer tower and assorted stuff. ;D
It is made from Big Box Store Fir with the exopy finished top over stain.

[Mooseherder]

Made this plant stand for a friend with the leftover fir pieces from the desks.
It is darker than picture when it is inside. Brought it out in the sun for the picture.   Used wood putty for some effect in between fir strips, stained and covered with the 2 part epoxy finish.

[WDH]

Mooseherder,

With the quality you show in those pics, drawers should be no problem for you.  Come to Georgia and I will give you some walnut and also some poplar for drawers.