[Shop-talk] Unwarping an antique tabletop?

[Matt]

Regarding the artificial desert, I would suggest several handfulls of the desiccant packs tossed in with almost everything manufactured of shipped these days. Then cover with plastic film.

I have a container near my recycle bin that I toss these packs into during the unpacking process.  When I want to use them, I will subject them to low heat for an extended period to recharge or dry them out.


---------- Original Message ----------
From: Jim Franklin <jamesf at groupwbench.org>
To: shop-talk <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Shop-talk] Unwarping an antique tabletop?
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2023 19:45:46 -0400

I foolishly picked up a "free" 1930s dining table. It has a stunning veneered top and nice fluted double legs with intricate designs on the skirt.

It was free because the PO stored it in his basement and the top warped pretty good, the sides cupping upwards as moisture entered the underside.

I stripped the shellac off the top and laid it face down on the lawn to try and introduce moisture to the top while the sun baked the underside under weight, but it didn't move. I was able to remove the loosened underside veneer (maybe I should have done this before I put it in the sun?) but a few hours of hot steam and clamps wasn't enough to budge things. I don't want to remove the top veneer since I'd prefer a warped top to destroyed veneer. 

It seems I have 2 choices - soak the underside long enough for the entire 1/2" thick solid wood top to get wet and then clamp and dry it, and risk loosening the veneer, or build an environment where the humidity is very low and let the underside dry out well below ambient humidity, pulling the top straight. I'm in MA and it's a very damp summer.

Any thoughts on which is better, and if the latter, how to create this artifical desert?

thanks,
jim
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