Time to start the final phase of construction; to build the top of the dresser. This picture does not show the grain direction very well but I tried to mimic the same grain shapes and flow on the top as I did on the drawers. I feel it will tie the whole design together.
Once I decided on the layout of the boards, I thickness planed them and straitened their edges for glue up. I used biscuits in the glue up as an alignment tool rather than worrying about adding strength, I think the glue by itself is strong enough. I spaced the biscuits about 18” along the length of the top to help align the boards flush with each other. Although I have never experienced dips in table tops where biscuits are located I have heard of it happening. So when I cut the slots for the biscuits I always set the depth so it cuts the biscuit below the center line or about 2/3’s of the way down the thickness of the board. By doing this I am maximizing the thickness of the top above the biscuit in hopes that the extra thickness will prevent a dip where the biscuit is located, so far I have had good success with this technique.
Before attaching the top I will use a sanding sealer and a coat of lacquer to seal the underside of the dresser top. By sealing the underside of the top I hope to reduce the chance of warping and cracking do to natural expansion and contraction of the wood with the changes in humidity. The theory is, the piece will expand and contract more equally if both sides are sealed up.
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