I'm building a set of matching end tables for my siblings and myself from a walnut tree we cut down on our family property. I am using boards from the crotch of the tree for the tops, and will have a piece from each board that I can use for a drawer front IF the grain runs drawer top to bottom. Any problems with that grain orientation, rather than the more traditional side to side? Thanks.
Talladega, AL
- Tom
Our Expert
Traditionally, the grain in a drawer front runs from side-to-side. This positions the stronger long-grain on the ends of the drawer front where the joints are cut. In contrast, if the grain in the drawer front runs vertically, the joints will be weakened because of the short-grain.
I suggest that you run the grain in the drawer front horizontally for strength and apply veneer to the drawer fronts. Veneering allows you to make the most of the figured crotchwood. I slice the crotchwood boards into veneer on the bandsaw with a 1/2" wide skip tooth hook blade. Select a coarse blade pitch (teeth-per-inch) that places the fewest number of teeth in the stock. This will allow the large gullets between the teeth to effectively remove the sawdust from the kerf and prevent the blade from bowing. I slice the veneer about 3/32" thick to allow for sanding.
You can position the grain in the veneer to run in the same direction as the drawer front, or you can run the grain in the veneer vertically (90 degrees to the drawer front). If you choose to run the grain vertically, I recommend that you apply veneer to the back surface of the drawer front as well as the front. This will, in effect, create a three-layer plywood that will help stabilize the cross-grain construction.
