Question
I have client that would like a table out of maple, solid size 42x66 before leaves with three 18” wide leaves so it will be 10 feet long with all leaves. The kicker is they want the grain to go lengthwise. Can this be done? I was thinking with metal slides and pins that can move with the wood it may work.
Forum Responses
(Furniture Making Forum)
From contributor J:
If the grain is lengthwise then I don't see any movement issues with the slides. Metal or wood hardly matters; this would require 3-piece slides, and they'd have plenty of overlap. I'd be more concerned with the changing width of the table damaging the joinery between leg and apron. I'd also be concerned about potential warpage of the leaves. You'd have to be very careful about the MC and grain orientation issues. This sort of look is best achieved with veneer.
If they can back away from one of the excluding specs, then you can give them a nice solid table with leaves, conventional grain, or a table with long continuous grain, veneered. Be sure to explain this is not your lack of skill or willingness to comply, it just is not a good way to build.
Here it is with leaves open.
