Need Advice Warped table top

[Douglas61]

Hi, New to this forum. A friend asked me if I could help refinish a table. Haven't seen it as yet but the the biggest problem based on the attached picture is the warping of the table top.
If I can remove it could I use some form of water treatment to try to wet it and bend it or force it back into a more level shape? Thx for any responses.

 

[RobS.]

I don't regard myself as qualified to give a correct response, but I think clamps would certainly help. However, you would need some way of keeping the top flat after the clamps were removed like strong glue or screws or something.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge will respond.

 

[Canuck]

If you can easily remove the top; I would add some z clips or figure 8 fasteners to the aprons. Then position the top, clamp until flat and add screws.

Maybe worth a try.

 

[Jvsquare]

Hi, New to this forum. A friend asked me if I could help refinish a table. Haven't seen it as yet but the the biggest problem based on the attached picture is the warping of the table top.
If I can remove it could I use some form of water treatment to try to wet it and bend it or force it back into a more level shape? Thx for any responses.

You could pour boiling water along the center — both top and bottom — and then put some heavy objects on top of it. Ideally you’d also put something under the edges to go slightly past flat because the wood will want to spring back. I’ve done this in the past with some success. Just be careful you don’t crack it in half, maybe do it in stages. And this will likely damage the finish but since you’re refinishing anyway…

 

[Oka]

If you can pull the top, and the top is not a veneered piece of wood you can steam it. It would take probably a while to soften the wood. Then you need to have built a flat area and jig to place it in to and then could flatten. My concern these pieces usually have a veneer top. Another option is to replace the top with a matching shape/same type wood and refinish.

 

[creasman]

My solution would be to remove the top and saw it right where the bend/warp starts, joint each edge and then re-glue it. You'll sacrifice about 1/8" of the width this way, but it looks like the overhang is sufficient you won't notice. Once this is done find someone with a wide sander and send it through a few times to flatten before refinishing. Follow that with the fasteners mentioned in @Canuck's post when you re-attach.

 

[kserdar]

From looks of the first picture. I would say that the top is already split on the right hand side.

 

[Darl Bundren]

I second Canuck’s recommendation if you can remove the top—take it off, install 8s on the apron, clamp it flat, and screw the top down to the 8s. I would not put water on it.

 

[demondeacon]

I would just start over and make a new, flat top, properly secured with z clips or whatever. There is nothing in the pictures to indicate the top is worth saving, and for a small top you can buy enough walnut for around 40 bucks and save yourself a bunch of agony, and most likely a less than satisfactory outcome.

 

[Hmerkle]

My solution would be to remove the top and saw it right where the bend/warp starts, joint each edge and then re-glue it. You'll sacrifice about 1/8" of the width this way, but it looks like the overhang is sufficient you won't notice. Once this is done find someone with a wide sander and send it through a few times to flatten before refinishing. Follow that with the fasteners mentioned in @Canuck's post when you re-attach.

Doug, Creasman's suggestion is the right one.
The top is warped becasue of some tension in the wood.
The only way to combat that is to remove the tension.

You could use some table top clips, like Wayne (@Canuck) suggested, but I will guess there are screws from the apron of the table into the table top that the warped top easily defeated over the years...

Not an easy solution, but probably a more permanent one..

 

[scsmith42]

My solution would be to remove the top and saw it right where the bend/warp starts, joint each edge and then re-glue it. You'll sacrifice about 1/8" of the width this way, but it looks like the overhang is sufficient you won't notice. Once this is done find someone with a wide sander and send it through a few times to flatten before refinishing. Follow that with the fasteners mentioned in @Canuck's post when you re-attach.

I concur. Your method would be my first choice.

 

[danmart77]

This repair/relaxing a board that most likely was not finished on the bottom of the board. You can take the top and paint water on one side and see if it moves for you. The repair just takes some time. By the way, the broken tenon on the leg joint needs to be worked to get it set.

Good Luck
Dan

 

[Gofor]

Considerations on trying to take out the warp:

It may have hide glue. If so, steaming/wetting it will most likely result in the glue releasing on all the joints. That could be a blessing, as then all you may have to do is correct the edges with a plane before re-assembly if none are cupped.

Older glue may also give up when stress is applied in an attempt to warp it back (i.e. Clamps or tightening up figure eights or Z clips.) If the glue doesn't give, a panel itself might crack.

I agree with sawing/rejointing as the best fix. However, it appears to me that the forward half is actually cupped, so more than one joint might have to be done, or re-planing the top after joint repair to make it flat again. Hard for me to tell from the pic how many panels are in the top and in the lifted section and if any of the individual panels are cupped.

 

[Douglas61]

I don't regard myself as qualified to give a correct response, but I think clamps would certainly help. However, you would need some way of keeping the top flat after the clamps were removed like strong glue or screws or something.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge will respond.

thanks for the thought

 

[Douglas61]

If you can easily remove the top; I would add some z clips or figure 8 fasteners to the aprons. Then position the top, clamp until flat and add screws.

Maybe worth a try.

View attachment 245580

Thanks for the thought

 

[Douglas61]

If you can pull the top, and the top is not a veneered piece of wood you can steam it. It would take probably a while to soften the wood. Then you need to have built a flat area and jig to place it in to and then could flatten. My concern these pieces usually have a veneer top. Another option is to replace the top with a matching shape/same type wood and refinish.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Douglas61]

My solution would be to remove the top and saw it right where the bend/warp starts, joint each edge and then re-glue it. You'll sacrifice about 1/8" of the width this way, but it looks like the overhang is sufficient you won't notice. Once this is done find someone with a wide sander and send it through a few times to flatten before refinishing. Follow that with the fasteners mentioned in @Canuck's post when you re-attach.

Got it, probabaly a bit more than a refinisher like myself can handle. could you take a moment to explain your saw comment. I'm not really clear on this step. thx

 

[Douglas61]

From looks of the first picture. I would say that the top is already split on the right hand side.

right that split doesn't bode well.

 

[Douglas61]

I would just start over and make a new, flat top, properly secured with z clips or whatever. There is nothing in the pictures to indicate the top is worth saving, and for a small top you can buy enough walnut for around 40 bucks and save yourself a bunch of agony, and most likely a less than satisfactory outcome.

I like your thought, thx.

 

[Douglas61]

This repair/relaxing a board that most likely was not finished on the bottom of the board. You can take the top and paint water on one side and see if it moves for you. The repair just takes some time. By the way, the broken tenon on the leg joint need to be worked to get it set.

Good Luck
Dan

Thanks Dan, you are seeing someting I wasn't picking up on in the images. Are you referring to the side view pic?