Thread: Tallowood Slab Dining Table

Originally Posted by Gordo78

i've been looking at these but would prefer to use a timber corner bracket with 2 vertical lag screws. I've been eyeing of the 150mm lag screw as everything else i've found is 75mm and i don't think that's long enough. two vertical 1/2 " lagscrews is pretty heavy duty though, probably overkill.

haha, who am i kidding, a 1/2" lag screw??? what an idiot. back to the sketch paper.

Originally Posted by switt775

Check here for the same sort of thing available locally.

I've got Lee Valley as a browser favourite and their range just makes finding stuff pretty easy, but when it come to buying, I like to shop local where I can
so thanks for posting the local link Swift

Gordo, timber corner brackets are usually restricted to reinforcing a M&T joint, they're not normally used as primary supports, whereas the steel brackets are.

Originally Posted by ian

Gordo, timber corner brackets are usually restricted to reinforcing a M&T joint, they're not normally used as primary supports, whereas the steel brackets are.

Thanks for this bit of info. It might sway me back to a MT joint. hey, if they break something, i can always fix it.

Gordo78,
I have come onto this thread late, sorry. A few posts back you said ity had borer holes in it ? that must be a different type of tallow wood to ours up here in the far north. Northern Tallow wood is a pale yellow/ cream colour, harder than Iron wood and Borers need false teeth after a few bites. It was widely used for floor joists, bearers and stumps for just that reason. Borers and white ants wouldn't touch it. Harder than the hobbs of hell it is.
It would blunten a set of tungsten planer blades after a few meters of plank and would require 4 men and a dog just to lift it. As a previous scribe said, it will give a smooth/shiney finish when scraped, but be carefull of the finish you use as the waxiness can give problems. Nice slab though.
Wallnut

Back to plan A, due to lack of time and not being happy with the removable legs idea. So, MT joints it will be. I'm curious about a few techniques, so any asitance would be good.

Tenons: to avoid buying more tools (currently not an option for expensive tools etc), i am considering using my powersaw to cut the Tenons and stay 1mm of the actual shoulder line and cut this with a chisel. I would leave a full width tag end to keep the saw level and then trim it to final length afterwards. Is this acceptable? should i dig out my router instead?

Mortises: My builder Bro in law says use a speed borer and trim the corners with a chisel then check the thickness of the wall (terminology?) with a caliper or similiar. Again, is this acceptable?

Gluing up: once all components are fabricated, should i glue up the two ends first, then attach the side rails? Or should I glue the lot up in one go? can i use a ratchet strap to pull it all together or should i buy a 1200mm clamp?


Lots of questions, no progress pics unfortunately....

Have you got a tenon saw to do the tenons, they don't cost much especially on ebay. I wouldn't use a power saw unless it was in a bench.

Mortises, just take your time with the technique described and have very sharp chisels. Do a practise run on an off cut first if you are unsure.

Glueing up, definitely the two ends first then the whole lot. Can't see why the rachet wouldn't work. Just make sure everything is plumb and square. That's not that easy to organise with a rachet so do a dry run first.

Thinking through this makes me appreciate how much easier it is when you've got all the tools.

Glad to see you go back to M&Ts, I doubt the metal brackets would be anygood on a table as heavy as yours. M&Ts, do like JJ says.

Originally Posted by jarrah jack

Have you got a tenon saw to do the tenons, they don't cost much especially on ebay. I wouldn't use a power saw unless it was in a bench.

Mortises, just take your time with the technique described and have very sharp chisels. Do a practise run on an off cut first if you are unsure.

Glueing up, definitely the two ends first then the whole lot. Can't see why the rachet wouldn't work. Just make sure everything is plumb and square. That's not that easy to organise with a rachet so do a dry run first.

Thinking through this makes me appreciate how much easier it is when you've got all the tools.

Yep, I have too many hobbies to have all the tools etc for all of them

More family stuff than table stuff this weekend. bought a couple 1500mm wood clamps which will look after gluing up the ends. I've decided to trial taking the bulk of the tenon out with the circ saw and finish it with my router.

Wife and kids are going away for 10 days to see the inlaws in a couple weeks. I plan on eating dinner off this table by the time they get back. stay tuned for a flurry of activity over the next few weeks.

Righto, wife and kids are at the inlaws for 10 days. work on my table recommences today!

finished yet?

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

finished yet?

Patiences dusty patiences.