11
votes
Accepted
Why are table legs attached to the edge of tabletop so rare?
Why are table legs attached from the bottom in almost all cases? Are there some considerations when attaching legs from the edge?
Attaching legs to the edges of a table top would provide very little ...
- 8,911
10
votes
Why are table legs attached to the edge of tabletop so rare?
In addition to Caleb's excellent points, an additional drawback to edge joined legs is that all of the weight on the table is borne by the fasteners and a thin strip of wood (left in the top above the ...
- 6,077
8
votes
Accepted
Metal framed wood table, will expansion be an issue?
I would be quite concerned with wood movement in this design. You will be bonding epoxy (which doesn't move seasonally) directly to the end grain of wood. Since the wood will be expanding and ...
- 5,460
7
votes
Do pocket hole screws allow for proper expansion and contraction in planked table tops?
Do pocket hole screws allow for proper expansion and contraction in planked table tops?
It completely depends on where they're sited. They're perfectly acceptable in some places and utterly wrong in ...
- 61.8k
7
votes
How to attach table legs to wood that is too thin?
18mm isn't actually particularly thin, many smaller pieces use 1/2" material (roughly 13mm) for their tops and numerous sizeable tables have tops 18mm thick or less.
For tables, legs are almost never ...
- 61.8k
7
votes
How to attach table legs to wood that is too thin?
Ive looked everywhere for table legs which I can screw into the wood but every table leg I see needs a minimum depth of 25mm for the wood, whereas my wood is much thinner at 18mm.
For my Imperial ...
- 12.1k
6
votes
Accepted
How can I create a planked wood table top with a plywood core?
I was wondering how I could make a table similar.
You can't really, and shouldn't try. Making a table that looks similar is easy enough, but actually laminating solid wood to plywood is inherently a ...
- 61.8k
6
votes
How can I create a planked wood table top with a plywood core?
There are several issues to address in fabricating such a table top.
First, as you pointed out is wood movement. The plywood base will not have any appreciable movement in either direction while the ...
- 7,964
6
votes
Accepted
Do pocket hole screws allow for proper expansion and contraction in planked table tops?
will pocket hole screws allow the table to expand and contract as it is supposed to?
I'm assuming you built something that was fastened together along the lines of this
(source)
where you used ...
- 12.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to reinforce my plywood table?
I don't think that any of your proposed solutions really address the heart of the problem. The core issue here is that the material you used for the top is not rigid enough. 1/2" ply is not ...
- 5,460
6
votes
How to calculate the angle for the legs?
Determine the displacement you wish for the legs. This measurement combined with the height, will allow you to calculate the angles required.
To calculate the angle of the lower left corner of the ...
- 2,879
6
votes
What type of board material can I use for a gaming table's play area?
I would say that your main requirement is to have the surface smooth and flat so that the covering material is also smooth and flat in turn.
OSB is not appropriate for this, as it has a rough texture ...
- 3,335
6
votes
Accepted
What type of board material can I use for a gaming table's play area?
Should I be concerned with the type of material I use?
Well as a general rule, always.
Appearance isn't an issue. The only place it'll be visible is from underneath anyway and I don't care if that ...
- 61.8k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the strongest join for splayed legs?
What is the strongest join for splayed legs?
As is almost always the case with this type of question there is no one clear winner. There are numerous joints — including some unconventional/less seen ...
- 61.8k
5
votes
What is the strongest join for splayed legs?
How complicated do you want to make the construction?
Note that under the third table we see that it has aprons. Those are undoubtedly mortise-and-tenioned into the legs, which is quite a strong ...
- 9,111
5
votes
Warped Walnut Slabs
We have to be careful in advising you here since what you mean by "warp" may not match the commonly accepted definition. Some people use the term generically to refer to boards that aren't flat along ...
- 61.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Are these work desk joints strong enough?
This design is plenty stout and has lots of extra strength built in to cope with material inconsistency and intermittent stresses put upon it. Those are excellently beefy pegged mortise and tenon ...
- 623
4
votes
Accepted
Follow up, camber extendable table with the rack and pinion
Table slides are those pieces of wood that join the two halves of a table and support the leaves. The bigger the opening the more pieces necessary for each slide (Normally two slides per table, each ...
- 3,667
4
votes
Can I use half-lap joint for table breadboard?
Can I use half-lap joint for table breadboard?
Yes of course you can, the picture you included shows that, the real question is whether you should :-) That there are very few other tables with ...
- 61.8k
4
votes
Can I use half-lap joint for table breadboard?
The main purpose for the breadboard feature is cover the end grain edge of the top and to keep the top surface from curling across its width by locking it into the plane of the breadboard edge piece. ...
- 7,964
4
votes
Box joints for this table with just jigsaw and chisel?
Some general design/structural considerations for this type of project:
While the design shown should be adequate for light loads, it may be helpful to others to understand the way the table works in ...
- 7,964
4
votes
Accepted
Panel Flatness During Table Top Glue Up
Glue up strategy was pipe clamps alternating on top and bottom every foot. I also used biscuits.
Alternating clamps top and bottom is a good way to help achieve a flat glue-up, but if you want to be ...
- 61.8k
4
votes
Design: Adjustable/Collapsible Wooden Table Leg
My current idea is just to have the leg basically fold into itself but I'm unsure how sturdy this would be.
You can get around the obvious strength concern of a leg that folds in the centre by using ...
- 61.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Designing legs for large larch tabletop
A table may look simple, but there are some important points to keep in mind when designing one:
Wood expands and contracts across its width and depth, but not in its length as a result of seasonal ...
- 7,964
4
votes
How might a tabletop be joined to this kind of frame?
A large round tenon at the 4 corners and small dowels on the top rails on the sides would be sufficient to hold the tabletop tight against the supports.
Added information:
People were wondering why I ...
- 624
3
votes
Accepted
How to cut and join "wedges" of plywood to form a perfect circle
Don't make the wedges out of plywood, but rather make them out of veneer. This allows you to have a solid tabletop, but still get the design you want.
There is a video series by GuysWoodshop (think ...
- 2,602
3
votes
Best way to attach metal legs to corner desk? Do I need extra support?
There are two sets of concerns you must address in designing the base for your desk.
First, it is my understanding that you have three leg locations for the top, one each at the ends of the "L" and ...
- 7,964
3
votes
Building a table for aquarium
Judging by the pictures and the movie, I'd say the problem is just warping of the pine boards. The fact that the boards are straight at the center (where they are screwed to the vertical legs) and ...
- 3,335
3
votes
Warped Walnut Slabs
Essentially: No. You make slabs flat by removing wood to obtain a flat surface, by planing or by using a carriage-guided router or by machine-sanding or some combination of these. Sometimes you can ...
- 9,111
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible