Attaching a Table Top

rrich · 8th June 2007, 03:36 PM

I'm going to use those metal figure "8" fasteners to attach the top of the coffee table that I'm building.

The top is about 800 by 600 with the grain parallel to the 800 edge.
Do I use the fasteners only on the 600 sides? The fasteners would be installed parallel to the grain so any wood movement would just cause the fasteners to twist as they are intended to do.

Others have said to put them only along the 800 edge or perpendicular to the grain. (To me that seems to be a sure design for disaster.)

Some have said to put the fasteners on all four edges. (Other than selling more hardware I don't understand why.)

Any advice would be appreciated.

**craigb** · 8th June 2007, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by rrich

Any advice would be appreciated.

Why not just use buttons?

**gilbo** · 8th June 2007, 05:53 PM

I have been trying to get the figure 8 fastners, but the hardware store did not know what I was asking for (Mitre 10).

**Chesand** · 8th June 2007, 06:57 PM

Mitre 10 down here stocks them in small blister packs so they should be able to get them for you

**IanW** · 8th June 2007, 07:48 PM

Rrich,
When deciding where/how to put your fasteners, think about what you're trying to achieve.

Most of the seasonal wood movement occurs ACROSS the grain, so the significant coming & going will occur along the short (600mm) dimension. Therefore, you definitely want to put fasteners that allow for movement (i.e. your figure 8 fasteners, wooden 'buttons', screws through elongated holes in cleats, or whatever other method you can dream up that sticks the top to the undercarriage, but allows the top to expand & contact a little).

Wood movement ALONG the grain is usually considered negligble, so theoretically, you could just screw it down through a couple of angled holes in the skirt & not worry too much. Sure, your top is going to expand and contract, but unless you've used thumping great rails 2 inches thick, they will easily flex a little to accomodate that.

In practice, it's just as easy to use the same fixing method all round as alter it for long and short grain sides, so my advice - use the figure 8s all round. Either pre-slot the rails on the table saw before assembly, or run a router with a slotting bit around after assembly.

Easy peasy,

**brian mcmillan** · 11th June 2007, 11:42 PM

as ianw says you could just do the angle holes with countersink in your side rails just make sure your holes thru rails have some clearence so it can move i prefer to stay away from fig 8s and other fastners as i feel they look cheap and nasty but if content to use fig 8s all the way around should be fine other option could be those table top brackets that fix to top and u have a biscuit groove on inside of side rails that the brackets turn into biscuit slots and top is held down tight but free to move with expantion and contraction

**Wood Borer** · 12th June 2007, 12:18 AM

Check out this thread where it was discussed how to make buttons.

Making Buttons

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