V4Slabs Posted June 7, 2019 Report Share Posted June 7, 2019 Hello, I am ready to install the mounting legs on my slab dining table. I want to include one or two c-channel beams to help keep the slab flat over time. When attaching the c-channels and the mounting (trapezoid legs), how do you account for future wood movement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted June 7, 2019 Report Share Posted June 7, 2019 Screw the channels in the center as you normally would, but toward the edges, elongate the holes in the channel so the screws can move with the wood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted June 7, 2019 Report Share Posted June 7, 2019 Metal legs are generally installed by having a slotted hole in the metal mounting bracket so that the screw can move slightly as the wood expands and contracts. For a slab table like this one (photo taken from Crate and Barrel). Most of the wood movement will be in the direction of the blue arrows. Movement in the other directions will be negligible. Therefore, the slots/holes in the legs will be elongated in the same direction. The holes in the middle can be normal, but the outer holes need to be slotted or oversized enough to allow movement of the screws. Wood movement is a force to be reckoned with. Depending on the size of the slab and C channels, they may or may not actually do anything to keep the slab flat. Proper drying and milling is far more important. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted June 7, 2019 Report Share Posted June 7, 2019 You might find this useful (about the 2 min mark) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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