Wood Working Question
 

This past weekend we took full advantage of the many yard sales going on in our area. One thing we ended up with is an old kids table and chairs set that needs some refinishing. The top is worn to bare wood and cupped. What is the best way to straighten the top? I was thinking of using 3/4" x 1/12" strips screwed across the bottom to pull the top flat. I am worried that just pulling it flat will result in the top splitting or cracking. Is there a trick or method that will prevent that? It doesn't have to be perfect, just flat enough that toys wont rock when they are put on top.

Attachment 68294
Attachment 68295
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Thanks for any ideas
Bill

Rip the top lengthwise into as many boards as practical. Re-glue with a spline joint or biscuits. Make sure the end grain alternates when you re-glue.
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/p...pictureid=6460

Moisten the top side pretty good then put it in the hot sun upside down.
it should warp back flat, then glue & screw a couple of strong backs on the underside and refinish :beerchug:

You can also add some weight to help speed up the process

Or you could go to Lowes's and get a 1/4 sheet of plywood and be done with it.

Leave it alone. If the kids spill on it the stuff will run to the center. :biggrin2:

:IH Trusted Hand:

The boards that the top is made from should already be configured in the same way as the illustration in post #2. Hard to tell what size the table is but I'm guessing that there are 4 or 5 individual boards in the top.

I don't disagree that narrower boards (configured like the illustration in post #2) will be much less likely to warp but if you don't have the tools and equipment to do the work, not to mention that you would loose a considerable amount of overall width from the thickness of the saw blade with each cut.

I believe that ol'George is on the right track, a good soaking on the top side with water will help keep the top from splitting and when laid top side down, and the sun will draw the edges up. You'll probably have to keep a close eye on it so that you don't warp it back too much. Then clamp it to something flat until it's good and dry (probably not in the sun this time).

Good Luck with your project.

I don't know how wide or long that top is but the center warp is quite severe and to attempt to straighten it I think would be futile...if you could rip the top apart into individual boards you could joint them back straight but will loose quite a bit of thickness in the process. Lowes sells panels already glued up maybe worth a look to see if they have one that could replace the top!

Thanks for the ideas guys. I think sitting out, getting wet and drying in the sun is probably how it got this way in the first place. I'll give the water and sun a chance to bring it back straight. Even if it's not perfect, just better, I'll be happy. Sam has a good point, if nothing else it might keep my rug cleaner. :biggrin2: I don't have access (or time) to the tools to rip it down and joint it back together, although I do agree, it would be the best way to do it. We paid $13, so we're not expecting it to be perfect, but I'm always trying to make things better. I'll let you know how it works out. :beerchug:

Thanks
Bill

I don't think there is much you can do about the warp. Any attempt to moisten, heat, etc risks making it worse and strongbacks/battens could crack it. Once it's warped like this, hysteresis will prevent it from ever being flat again without cutting/planing and re-gluing. Water swells the fibers, so the wet side will become convex, which is potentially what you'd want to happen to the top. This will happen regardless of grain direction in the individual boards. But it won't be even across the top and there is no practical way to control what happens.

If you wanted just to try something, turn it upside down on the grass overnight or for a couple days. Don't let it get rained on. The moisture in the ground will migrate to the top and may reduce the warp. But a day upright in sun will put it right back where it is.