Have you seen a dining table with cross grain?

Question

I am building a dining room table with a top of approximately 44” by 65”. The bottom will be painted with lamp black milk paint and the top will be oak with only clear topcoat. I have a supply of beautiful oak just the right length to make the top cross grain rather than running the 65 “ length of the table. My question is have you seen a table with cross grain and did it just look weird? Advantages would be getting to use a supply of great looking oak versus having to do lots of glue ups. Thanks in advance for any and all opinions.

Jack

a1jim · Accepted Answer

The reason most people build tables with the grain running across the width, rather than having it having it run the full length is that doing this creates much more wood movement possible creating a problem for attaching the top.

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oldrivers · Answer

I would run it the way I wanted it.. You will have some 40 inches more end grain running cross wise and there will be more movement *because. There will be more boards needed to to span the 65" than 44".
However if you run them long ways and add a Tough and groove Beard board covering the end grain. Just make sure you only glue or pin the bread board in the center and use screws (from the bottom side)with over size holes for movement or better still peg the board and slot the outside holes inside the bread board for expansion and contraction (movement ) of the table top.

Bill · Answer

My table runs cross grain and is holding up great.It can extend out to almost 10’no problems with wood movement.Amish built it out of Ohio,we bought it from Art Van Furniture 20 years ago.

Q&A: Have you seen a dining table with cross grain?

Answers