Thread: Table design, what do you think?

If it was me I would like the side stretchers a bit further apart to give that large top more support, especially for a thinner top. I usually overbuild stuff. Overall it it looks fine.
Regards
John

I wanted to make a table for home but I have been saying that for 3 months lol

Hi Cam.
If I were making that I would not do the solid top 30 or 40 mm thick right through , I would be doing either a mitered top with a 19mm center panel or a top with two bread board ends and two edge boards at 175 x 30 to 40 with the middle at 19 mm. 30 to 40 right through would weigh a lot and the leg design looks good but a bit flexible for a heavy top . I'm thinking of sideways forces on it, a hit and it may want to wobble back and forth in a horizontal way for a little while. You could do those two types of top around ply covered in Oak as well. If I were going to be taking my leg material from 50mm then I would keep it as thick as possible , or even go thicker for the legs and that will give a bit more meat for that through M&T . I don't think Pegs[ 8 or 10mm ] through the tenons at the leg join , if that's what you mean by pinning is, are going to help , they would weaken that area . I would just be doing the join and using a 2 pack glue.

The frame under the top looks tricky to assemble as well , How do all them tenons and halving joints go in at the same time , If they are all super precise and there is no flex in the ends of those long rails ? It looks like some sliding dovetails joints are needed to me .

Regards Rob

Originally Posted by auscab

Hi Cam.
If I were making that I would not do the solid top 30 or 40 mm thick right through , I would be doing either a mitered top with a 19mm center panel or a top with two bread board ends and two edge boards at 175 x 30 to 40 with the middle at 19 mm. 30 to 40 right through would weigh a lot and the leg design looks good but a bit flexible for a heavy top . I'm thinking of sideways forces on it, a hit and it may want to wobble back and forth in a horizontal way for a little while. You could do those two types of top around ply covered in Oak as well. If I were going to be taking my leg material from 50mm then I would keep it as thick as possible , or even go thicker for the legs and that will give a bit more meat for that through M&T . I don't think Pegs[ 8 or 10mm ] through the tenons at the leg join , if that's what you mean by pinning is, are going to help , they would weaken that area . I would just be doing the join and using a 2 pack glue.

The frame under the top looks tricky to assemble as well , How do all them tenons and halving joints go in at the same time , If they are all super precise and there is no flex in the ends of those long rails ? It looks like some sliding dovetails joints are needed to me .

Regards Rob

Thanks Rob, that's really helpful info!

Make it 1/2 or 1/4 scale to test the theory out of cheap pine would be my approach. The doing will produce the answers.

Cheers
Bevan

Bevan's suggestion is the way to go as well .

Just thinking of assembly Cam, you could do the cross halving with the red arrow I put in your picture, and the end slides on to your tenons with the green arrows, and at the yellow arrows it could just be a butt join and pegged through from the out side ,or screwed from the inside .
With the butt join , the end of that can have a glue block added before you cut the angle on the end ,which is a big help when clamping and pegging, and leaves a bit more to peg to .

Rob

Originally Posted by auscab

Bevan's suggestion is the way to go as well .

Just thinking of assembly Cam, you could do the cross halving with the red arrow I put in your picture, and the end slides on to your tenons with the green arrows, and at the yellow arrows it could just be a butt join and pegged through from the out side ,or screwed from the inside .
With the butt join , the end of that can have a glue block added before you cut the angle on the end ,which is a big help when clamping and pegging, and leaves a bit more to peg to .

Rob

Fantastic Rob, Thank you. Great solution.

For those who are interested.. Finished the base today. Top is drying.

Thanks for the help!

Screen Shot 2014-11-11 at 8.35.16 pm.jpg

looks really good