Thread: Fastening legs to table - conundrum

I thought I'd add a visual guide as to what im doing -

http://www.bomboracustomfurniture.co...dining-table1/

although teh design is more like this one (no angled legs)
http://www.bomboracustomfurniture.co...-dining-table/

I see that there are some battens/rails on this second one, but Im still not clear how I would use those properly while still allowing for expansion/contracton of wood.

Cheers.

I'm not too sure sorry but it looks like they've used bolts up through the legs, 2 on each side and one in the middle. Having only ever used buttons for joining tops, I don't know where you could source them from :S

it looks as though the battens form a slot to retain the legs.

how wide are the top of your "bands" ?

how thick is your top?

my initial thoughts are to rout a shallow slot for the legs -- say 15mm deep -- place battens either side of the slot attached to the top with screws in slotted holes to allow for movement
the battens must be a tight fit to the legs.

3 or 4 screws through slotted holes in each leg would be good enough to attach the legs to the top

Originally Posted by ian

it looks as though the battens form a slot to retain the legs.

how wide are the top of your "bands" ?

how thick is your top?

my initial thoughts are to rout a shallow slot for the legs -- say 15mm deep -- place battens either side of the slot attached to the top with screws in slotted holes to allow for movement
the battens must be a tight fit to the legs.

3 or 4 screws through slotted holes in each leg would be good enough to attach the legs to the top

The bands are 150 wide. I also don't have a router.

Originally Posted by Ponzu

The bands are 150 wide. I also don't have a router.

OK

turn the top upside down, place the legs where you want them use 3 or 4 pairs of screws in slotted holes -- the slots should allow the top to expand or shrink in width

attach the battens to the top so that they are tight against the legs -- attach to the top using screws in slotted holes

Originally Posted by ian

OK

turn the top upside down, place the legs where you want them use 3 or 4 pairs of screws in slotted holes -- the slots should allow the top to expand or shrink in width

attach the battens to the top so that they are tight against the legs -- attach to the top using screws in slotted holes

Cool. also showing I'm amateurm how would i go about making slotted holes in 40mm stock? the only thing i was able to find online was how to use a jigsaw to cut slots between two drilled holes. Is it just a matter of jiggling the drill side to side to elongate the shank hole in the legs being fastened to the top?

One would use a router. It would cut two slots. One for the screw so it can move back and forth, the next plunge (say, half the depth, or enough to hide the heads) would make wide enough to let the head sit in.

You'd make a little jig like this.

Milling-Fence-Slots.jpg

You can get really fancy, but this would do the job... but I can't find a pic to show it vertically.... the boards will want to expand and this is obviously the direction you'd make your slot. It needn't be huge, timber does move, but its not like 1cm or anything.

If you don't have a router, you could rig something up with a dremel with the little router base attached. A router will make it a snap and is an absolutely essential tool...

Another IF if you are in a pinch, just drill a much bigger hole using a forstner bit, say 15mm, then two holes within that side by side and chisel out in between the two smaller ones. Perhaps my incredibly terrible picture will demonstrate.....

Untitled.jpg

You don't have a router, you're an amature, your web link shows some pretty neat looking items

Originally Posted by Evanism

One would use a router. It would cut two slots. One for the screw so it can move back and forth, the next plunge (say, half the depth, or enough to hide the heads) would make wide enough to let the head sit in.

You'd make a little jig like this.

Milling-Fence-Slots.jpg

You can get really fancy, but this would do the job... but I can't find a pic to show it vertically.... the boards will want to expand and this is obviously the direction you'd make your slot. It needn't be huge, timber does move, but its not like 1cm or anything.

If you don't have a router, you could rig something up with a dremel with the little router base attached. A router will make it a snap and is an absolutely essential tool...

Another IF if you are in a pinch, just drill a much bigger hole using a forstner bit, say 15mm, then two holes within that side by side and chisel out in between the two smaller ones. Perhaps my incredibly terrible picture will demonstrate.....

Untitled.jpg

Cheers the last solution i will manage

Originally Posted by rod1949

You don't have a router, you're an amature, your web link shows some pretty neat looking items

seeing as were using emoticons to express ourselves I couldn't find the golf clap, so this will have to do

Originally Posted by rod1949

You don't have a router, you're an amature, your web link shows some pretty neat looking items

Routers have armatures

So this happened. Its done. 2.5m×1.35 messmate table

http://imgur.com/plUkwlB,eWKs8Id,05f54G2

3 images

Thanks to those that gave advice, a fat raspberry to the haters

Great looking table Ponzu.

For an beginner, that's a pretty impressive table.

I'd be pretty happy with that. Nice job.

Steven.