How to Build a Breadboard Tabletop

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In this woodworking video I'm going to be rebuilding cracked table top using dowels and saving money on lumber by reusing most of the original wood. This table has breadboard ends and I learned a lot from my mistakes so now I want to install the breadboards the right way. When woodworking, dowels can allow for expansion and contraction with the changes in temperature and humidity. This is the first time I’m using Odie’s oil with a pigment for wood color. In the end I saved lots of money on lumber by reclaiming most of the wood.
I’ll be removing the old top and cutting it apart, cleaning up the old wood, cutting it to size, doing all the glue ups, cutting down the frame and then sanding and finishing the top.

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-Hardwood of your choice

-Table top expansion brackets https://amzn.to/3uZbLuO

-Wood glue

-Dowels and dowel jig

-Clamps

-Table saw

-Sander (40-120 grit)

-Finish of choice

If you are using rough cut lumber, you will need to make sure you have flat planer faces and square parallel edges. A planer is the preferred tool for this, but if you do not have one, like me, then follow the instructions below. I also have a video on milling lumber on my YouTube channel.

-Mill first face to be flat regardless of the shape of the other side. You may need to make a planer sled to do this in a planer.

-Mill second face in planer.

-Take all lumber down to final thickness.

-Use a jointing jig and table saw to put one straight edge on all your boards.

-Put the straight edge against the fence and cut to final width.

Optional: I added a 1/8" round over to all my boards so I could see the individual boards when the table was done.

Get your clamps set up and stand all your panel boards on edge. Apply a thin even coat of wood glue on all mating edges and clamp up. You should also clamp the faces with long straight boards to ensure that the boards stay aligned and flat.

After a few hours, unclamp your panels. Use a track saw or circular saw with a saw guide to cut the panels even on the ends. Make sure your cut is square and straight.

Now that the panels are done. You can measure how long the breadboards need to be. I like to make mine about 1/16"-1/8" longer so they stay proud even with expansion and contraction.

Note: I like to put all the wood in the house overnight to climatize the wood for a more accurate cut.

Align the breadboards up with the main panel and mark where all the dowels will go. I used one per board. Using a doweling jig, drill the dowel holes on the panel side and insert the dowels.

On the bread board, drill the center dowel holes. For the outer holes, drill a dowel hole on either side of your mark and chisel out the wood in-between the holes to create a slot so the boards can float.

Dry fit the bread boards and make adjustment as necessary.

Now remove all the dowels and glue them all in on the panel side. Then put glue on the center dowels only and put the breadboard onto the panel. Now clamp the assembly and let sit for a few hours.

After the assembly is dry, remove the clamps and sand by working through the grits. I went from 40-120 grit. If you want a shinier finish, you can go to a higher grit. I wanted a flat finish.

Finally, apply your finish of choice by following the manufactures instructions. I used Odie's Oil with Espresso pigment.

Make a nice dinner and enjoy your new tabletop that you built yourself!