Thread: Asian style table

Beautiful table. I really like it. To me it looks a bit out of proportion. I would make legs shorter or the top wider.

You are right. Do not put the legs directly into the top. If the top expends, it will open the leg-to-rail joint. If the top shrinks, it will crack. Someone made a table like that and I bet he will regret later. Why don’t you make the top out of frame and panel? Do a beautiful mitre joint so you don't have problem with wood movement.

I actually quite liked the proportion when I looked at it again. Sorly

Nice design. If you want to make it even more asian you could incorporate a cloud lift motif. Personally I don't like the cloud lift motif. Agree with you and Wongo about the through tenons. One way to do it would be to use two sliding dovetails, Make the dovetail part at least as wide as the legs to give enough meat to be screwed to the legs.
Was this the table you were thinking of Wongo?

G'day Kev, I like it too. I've never done it but ones I've seen have a couple of cross members running underneath between the front and back rails/aprons. The cross members are higher in the middle and the top sits on those. The legs then stop short of the top.

If you're interested, Fine Woodworking (magazine) website is currently showing a detailed video of an asian style hall table build, I think it has a floating top (can't remember).

Keep us posted on your progress.

Regards, Peter.

No Michael.

Thanks guys, the frame top looks like being the go. the exact fixing method i will work out as i go. the original drawing i did was for a frame top with a glass insert covering a Japanese silk painting style picture under it, (hand painted by me). this kills 2 birds with one stone, as she has hassled me for years to do her some art work too (an older hobby). Time may be against me, so maybe some wrapping paper with cherry blossom can go under it temporarily.

Wongo the size is actually predetermined to some degree due to the space it will live in, but i dont mind it.

Peter, thanks for that heads up on Fine Woodworking, it has the sort of look (though fancier) i was going for. going to check it out in detail now