Joinery for solid tops and shelves

I think I would approach the shelf like I would a breadboard Joshua. Look at the plans for the Thorsen Table top and you’ll see three tenons on each end that get inserted into the breadboard. Pretend the breadboard is the rail on your shelf. Fix the center tenon but let the outside tenons float to accommodate for wood movenment. The tenons of course could be blind instead of through. Does that make any sense? I think looking at the Thorsen project will help.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

Thanks for that reference, Chip. I guess I should cut the outer two mortises a little wider than the tenons to allow for shifting, right?

-- Joshua, Olathe, Kansas

Absolutely correct Josh… sorry I didn’t mention that in the earlier post. Sounds like you’re on the right track.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

If it was me doing it I would cut a dado in the sides of the cab. and insert the shelf. You could fasten the front edge if you wanted. If it is two late to cut dados you might use a cleat and put your shelf on that and fasten the front edge so it could expand to the rear. If the shelf is not too wide the expansion is not that much.

-- Morris Wallace Seffner Fl. www.woodwork@tampabay.rr.com

Josh, I wouldn’t worry about anything. You will be using one board, not multipul boards.

I think that you can glue it, screw it, nail it or whatever and I don’t think that you will have a problem with one board of that width.

Let us know.

Bill

-- Make Dust

Josh -

I would agree with Chip’s reccommendation by fixing the center and letting the ends float in slightly wider mortises to allow for seasonal wood movement. With a fixed shelf of solid wood you are likely to develop a split at some time in the future. The Thorsen project is a great reference.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

After looking at the Thorsen project, I realized that it was exactly what I needed to see. Personally, I’m not in love with the look of the Thorsen table, so I hadn’t taken much notice of it. After Chip pointed me at it, I realized that even if I don’t like the look of a result, the process may be something I need to look into.

-- Joshua, Olathe, Kansas