[Wstein]

I am thinking of building in the next year or so a dinning room table. I like the ideal of the wood tile pattern on the top, but I am trying to figure out what woods to use. I was thinking like a maple with a redish wood for the "grout" trim around the tiles. That also leads me to try and figure out what I am going to build the base out of. My thoughts so far have been either cherry for the grout trim and the legs of the table and then maple for the wood tiles, the frame around the tiled top and the aprons on the base. Or instead of cherry use red oak. I am trying to stay with domestic hardwoods to try and keep the cost down.

So any suggestions would be appreciated, and they don't have to be white/red wood combinations.

Thanks in advance.
Paul

 

[frankp]

I'm not a big fan of oak but the cherry will darken considerably over the years. Not necessarily bad, just something to consider. I'd make the base match whatever "grout" wood you choose. How will you plan for movement of the top?

 

[Wstein]

That is a good question, I haven't thought to deeply about movement of the table top. I was thinking using pocket screws but they would probably hold the top too firmly not allowing for contraction/expansion of the wood. The original plans for the table had rails on the back side of the aprons that screwed into the table top. Now on these rails the screw holes were slightly oversized for the screw to allow some flex of the table top. Here is the site for the table http://woodgears.ca/table/build_table.html

Also, let me know if this is a bad ideal or not, in the original plans, the wood tiles were glued to a plank table top. I was thinking of using 3/4" birch ply wood instead, as it it is already a stable and level surface. Or would the tiles pop off the plywood base since it won't move as much as the tiles?

Thanks again for your pointers and suggestions.
P

 

[wood_chucker]

They sell ceramic tiles that mimic wood grain I might consider using these. Being they are stable and very durable to cold, hot, wet whatever a typical kitchen table may expeience and for the backer of the top I would definitley use a plywood since it is so stable. If you go the solid wood route I don't think pocket screws will be your answer as they don't allow for much movement