Why Wood Movement Matters in Handmade Furniture

Wood moves. That’s a simple fact of woodworking and something that always needs to be considered when working with solid wood. It’s one of the reasons why, in my humble opinion, many of these epoxy river tables are eventually going to fail, but that’s a conversation for another time. Learn how I built this bench here: https://jonpeters.com/blogs/woodworking-projects/cherry-bench-with-turned-legs

Expansion and contraction naturally happen with solid wood, so whether you’re building a tabletop, desktop, or, in this case, a seat for a Shaker-inspired bench, how the top is attached to the base is an important detail.

When it comes to handmade furniture, I believe the details matter. Yes, you could use metal clips or commercial fasteners that allow for wood movement, but I prefer what the English traditionally referred to as “buttons,” though I usually just call them wooden clips.

These clips take a little extra time to make, but they’re one of those satisfying little parts of the project that I really enjoy.

A slot is cut into the inside of the apron. I use a biscuit joiner to make the slot, though a router works just as well if you don’t have one. The clips themselves are made using the table saw, miter saw, and bandsaw. I rip and crosscut the stock to size, then shape it at the bandsaw.

Since these clips live underneath the tabletop, or in this case, the bench seat, no one will ever really see them. So technically, shaping them nicely isn’t necessary. But I think it’s a nice touch.

Someday, when someone moves this piece of furniture or flips it over, I hope they’ll notice those little details and know that real care went into the project, even the parts no one normally sees.

Once the project and clips have been sanded and finished, the apron is positioned on the underside of the top. The tongue of each clip slides into the slot and is secured with a screw through a countersunk hole. This method firmly fastens the top while still allowing the wood to move naturally with the seasons.

It’s a small detail, but it gives the piece that professional, handmade look that says: I care.

Click here to see the bench and learn more about the project. There’s also a full project video and plans available if you’d like to build one for your own home.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one.