Ned Cutler writes:

Hi all,

About a year ago I refinished a  mahogany dining room table.  It

is an art deco table with a patch work of square foot mahogany

veneers alternating between regular straight cut and burl veneers

that make up the top.  The apron of the table is not recessed,

instead it is flush against the top edge (See attached pictures). 

The problem is that when they veneered the side of the table, or

apron, the veneer covered the apron and the joint between the

apron and table top, with the apron's veneer butting against the

veneer on top of the table.

When I originally worked on the table, I noticed that the veneer

was cracking at the joint where the apron of the table met the

table top.  When refinishing it I smoothed the veneer to reduce

the sharp edges and finished over it.  Upon its return to the

customer I mentioned the cracked veneer to the customer and

explained what I did.

He has since contacted me and stated that the veneer has

cracked more and wondered if there was anything that could be

done to stop it and correct the problem.  The pictures I have

attached show the cracked veneer on the two ends of the table. 

There is very little cracking on the side of the table, with any

cracking primarily restricted to the area near the table ends.

The cracking is following the joint between the apron and the

table top.  It seems that the manufactured failed to put the veneer on

a single board that would span the joint area thus making the veneer

subject to the forces from the movement of the wood used on the

apron and table top.  I have also included pictures of the underside

of the table.  It seems that the apron is glued on to the table top.

First,  is my diagnosis of the cracking correct, I would love to

hear other's opinions?

Second, is there anything that can be done to correct this problem? 

My big concern is how to span the joint bewteen the apron and table

top,  while maintaining that flush joint between the side and top veneers. 

Thanks for you help.

Ned Cutler
Newbury, MA