Calculator
Wood Movement Calculator
Wood swells and shrinks across the grain as humidity changes. Plan your gaps, buttons and slots before you glue up.
Grain orientation
Indoor furniture typically ranges from 6% (heated winter) to 12% (humid summer).
Seasonal movement — Red oak
- Total width change
- 0.797″ (≈ 12.8/16″)
- Each side (centered fastening)
- 0.399″
- Coefficient used
- 0.00369
- Moisture swing
- 6%
Fasten tabletops with buttons, figure-8s or slotted holes sized for at least this movement. Never glue a solid panel into a frame.
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Build it · Advanced · 1 weekend
Download the complete plan with cut list and materials list (PDF)
Breadboard-End Table Top — A 36 × 60″ table top with breadboard ends that let the wood move. Drawings, cut list with board-foot totals, hardware list and step-by-step instructions.
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