I have a wooden dining table (Akio model from World Market) that has a top made of rubberwood, about 1 inch thick. There is a thin crack running about a third of the length of the table, close to one of the edges. While the crack is thin, it does completely split the table top. Is this something that can be fixed to prevent further damage, or will the crack eventually split my table entirely? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Marina, July 2009

I would highly recommend All Furniture Services.
www.furnitureservices.com

Stephanie, August 2009

The crack is probably the result of the timber shrinking. It's impossable to say if it's going to get worse as it depends on the environment it's in. If your house is extreamly dry it may get worse.
Is the crack running along a glue joint in the top or is it following the grain along a board?
If it's along a glue joint a cabinet maker should be able to rip the top down and re-joint the top for you.
If it's a split in the center of a board it could be filled with a wooden veneer and re-finished.
Unfortunatly solid wood furniture does exspand or shrink depending on where it is. Even the weather can affect things!
Hope this helps a little.

Andy, July 2009

Wikipedia is not very complimentary about Rubberwood.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubberwood

The table has been made badly - no allowance has been made for natural shrinkage - the top of the table is fixed too rigidly to the base - the crack has happened because the rigid fixing resisted natural shrinkage across the grain.

Fixings like these allow for this movement by having elongated slots...

http://www.barncrest.co.uk/images/large/Angled_bracket.jpg

A single screw in one of the long slots, not too tight, lets things move a bit.

You should look to the way the top is fixed to the base.

You might leave it for things to get worse - remove the top and glue up the split under pressure from cramps - fill the crack with a proprietary filler product.

If your table has fixings like the one in the picture the single screw in the long slot may have been done up too tightly, preventing movement. Only one of the long slots should have a screw in it - the one that runs across the grain of the table top.

Good luck...

Peccavi, July 2009