I've made around 8 to 10 tables and hundreds of cutting boards, but I keep running into this annoying issue where my tables wobble after I glue them up. I'm a somewhat experienced woodworker, and I'm starting to wonder if it's something to do with my clamping method or maybe another factor altogether. Can anyone share some common reasons why this might happen?
2 Answers
First off, make sure you're testing them on a completely flat surface. If your counter isn't flat, that could definitely be throwing you off. Also, try rotating the table after you set it down to see if the wobble shifts—this could give you a clue about where the issue lies. You mentioned testing on granite, which should be flat, so if that checks out, there might be something else going on with the table itself.
Great question! It's important to clarify where the wobble is coming from. Are you talking about the top being warped, or is it that the legs aren't all touching the ground? If the legs are the issue, that's often due to assembly not being perfectly square. Make sure to check the fit of the legs and apron. And it's a good thing you’re not gluing the tops, since wood movement can cause serious issues. Using figure 8 fasteners for the top is smart!