I recently posted here some plans for my desk build, all is going well and the leg mortise and tenons are all cut and fit. I do however have a question on the top, in my other post i received a recommendation to use a 3/4 oak plywood top with either edge banding or solid oak border, i would like some more opinions on this as i have never done it before? which is the better way and why? Solid jointed wooden top or plywood with solid oak frame. Also what jointing method is recommended for the plywood top to the solid wood frame?
It all comes down to personal preference and what you have tools to do. A plywood top with edge banding is quick, cheap, and only needs an iron to apply. Putting a hardwood edge on plywood is more involved, but it gives the illusion of a full hardwood top and you can router it and do all sorts of cool things.
To apply hardwood around plywood, you could get away with just glue but I recommend you use dowels, biscuits, or tongue and groove.
Be careful when sanding hardwood that's up against plywood. It's very easy to burn through the plywood veneer.
It seems you would prefer to put a solid hardwood edge on your desk rather than using veneer tape. Good choice. Unless you have matching router bits to make a tongue and groove joint I would not do it. There are several ways to apply a hardwood edge that is easier, faster and strong.
Before recommending the best way to do it, it will best if you know how wide you want your front hardwood edge.
Your front edge can be 3/4" or up to 4" wide. If only 3/4", I would use a butt joint with glue only. If the edge is over 1" wide I would use a spline or a biscuit.
Yeah i definitely want to use hardwood instead of edge banding, i was playing with the look and i like a 1x2 for this purpose, i have never done biscuits or spline maybe dowels?
I would have to agree to use the solid wood to band it with. You might joint the solid wood with a spline or use biscuits. Just be sure when you assemble the solid wood to the edge the solid wood is partially sanded and make sure the top side is perfectly flush. The plywood made today the veneer is so thin it really leaves nothing to sand so after the edge is applied only minor sanding is done.
I'm a big fan of laminating several strips, example, 20 1x1 strips to make 1 20" wide piece..
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