Thread: Help needed to make a dining table top

Welcome to the forum, Emma. I'm not going to try to answer you query as I'm sure other more experienced members will help.

soth

thanks for the welcome!!

Just thought i'd add that i've been looking at doing this for a few months and i'm tempted to go out and buy the wood in the next few weeks. I'm so sick of our current table.
I've also considered just nailing individual planks of wood to a frame and i thought this might work as long there's not too close together?!?!?
Any thoughts?
I'd prefer jarrah but tbh i'd love the more rustic old fashioned kitchen table look. So maybe i could just seal and stain some pine?!?

Emma,

First up, welcome!

Second, I suggest you look on the Big Stuff section and do a search on Tables. There's at least one bloke (sorry to name you Wongo) that does very nice work. Plenty of instruction there on his "10 foot Jarrah table".

I think you'll find there's a little more to making a table than you think. Making a top, say 30mm thick, that's reasonably flat, isn't too hard. But morticing legs, making decent tenons on the rails and even machining legs nice and square is another matter altogether.

But don't despair. There are plenty of smaller projects - like coffee tables, which are really just scaled-down versions of a dining table - that will get you started. Baby steps first I suggest.

Jeff

Emma,

I just popped down to the shed and checked my woodworking library. I have one book on tables and desks (A Time Life edition) that might help you. PM me and give me your address and I'll send it over.

Jeff

IS it easy to follow Jeff?

Emma, I'd describe the book as "basic". It takes you through most of what you need to know to get started. I think your main problem will be equipment / tools or lack thereof. That said, many great woodies persist with a Triton workbench and make some great furniture. Not me though. I make up for a lack of expertise with the best machines I can buy!

Again, send me a PM and the book is yours on loan for a while.

You are not starting to conquer Everest with this table (close, but the real test would be a set of 8 chairs for the table), so it can be done. Even without all the gear, you can get a local cabinet shop to mill your timber etc etc. And I'm sure someone out West can help if you ask nicely.

Alternatively, hitch the trailer up, wrap your jarrah in plastic and insulate it and come over to Victoria. You and I can make that table up in less than a week.

PS. I drink VB, not Swan.

Jeff

What sort of machines/tools do you have? Making a solid Jarrah laminated top is no easy task. Its a very heavy timber and expensive.
What size table are you wanting to make?