Thread: Help: Table construction

Whilst I can't help answer your attachment question, I would have to say that thinking about the weight of marble - even though we don't know how thick or the size of it - it worries me hearing (unless I have misunderstood) that you're considering making the supporting frame/legs from 5mm material... this strikes me as NOT being strong enough to properly support the potential weight.

Have you some data on thickness, size, weight?

A mechanical fix pending the thickness of the marble by drilling a hole and using screws and angle brackets to the timber. Of course the 5mm ply siliconed to the table top is always an option silicone can and does hold much weight you would need to assess the weight of your legs and marble is porous so adhesion may be inconsistent. There would be a construction adhesive liquid nails or similar which would be suited to bonding timber to stone. The 5mm ply adds more surface area than just the leg surface area.

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

Whilst I can't help answer your attachment question, I would have to say that thinking about the weight of marble - even though we don't know how thick or the size of it - it worries me hearing (unless I have misunderstood) that you're considering making the supporting frame/legs from 5mm material... this strikes me as NOT being strong enough to properly support the potential weight.

Have you some data on thickness, size, weight?

yep you misread that. The Marble already has a 5mm base applied to it, and there wasn't any mention of dimensions of material for construction of the legs/base.

marble is reasonably soft, reasonably porous, drills and glues well.

if you ware gluing direct to marble I'd be looking to a higher order adhesive than liquid nails or silicon ...... marine epoxy would bond very very well.

My major concern is that the leg design is fundamentally unstable and not good for corner loads.

using a similar leg design but putting a leg in each corner rather than each side would be far far safer.

cheers

The marble shouldn’t be attached to the legs . Marble/stone in quality furniture sits on a frame to support it and that frame is attached to the legs . Pins , dowels or a raised lip or moulded edge were usually used to keep the marble moving sideways . Suitable glue nowadays will do the job .
A joined frame starting from 38 or 50 mm timber x 150 wide laid flat with a chamfered outer edge to reduce the thick look if you got down low enough to see it should support the marble from cracking if it’s sat on .
I agree with Soundman that the footprint of the base looks small . A heavy top won’t help that either .
Cut up some sticks and glue together a scale model if you have to . Just to see what pressing down on a corner does in that design . Find out how easy it is to tip from a sideways push .

Most marble tables I've seen have the marble sitting loose on a sturdy frame. Its weight prevents it from moving. Also good marble is not set into the frame so you can see its thickness. It shouldnt be sitting in its legs like that though. It should have a frame on its legs slightly smaller than the size of the table.

Also, who sits on tables???

Originally Posted by yoboseyo

Also, who sits on tables???

Probably the same ones that Dance on them.
Stand on them to get to the light globe .
And even have Sex on them.

In other words , plenty of people .

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the all the replies and sorry about the tardy response. I have taken inspiration from them all and changed the design entirely, relying on the weight of the marble to hold it in place.

A couple of coats of Poly and then it is ready for a surprise 70th for my mum on Saturday