Thread: mortise and tenon dimensions for a slab dining table?

Gordo
the nornal "rule of thumb" is for tenons to be 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of the material -- in your case I'd use 20mm -- to have shoulders approximately the same width all the way round -- in your case 12mm -- and for the tennon to extend 1/2 way through the leg -- in your case 45mm

Can I suggest you find a plan of a similar table and modify it to suit your slab?
a recent issue of Popular Woodworking (many libraries subscribe) had a plan for a slab table that could be adapted for your slab.
Tables have "critical dimensions" related to seating positions and matching chair dimensions which you really need to be across before building one "blind" as it were


Your other question re 1/3 or 1/2 sheet sander for sanding the top
do you really mean flattening and sanding or just sanding?
if the later, the 1/3 sheet will be a little slow but you'll get there.
If the former ... please get someone to help you

Originally Posted by ian

Gordo
the nornal "rule of thumb" is for tenons to be 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of the material -- in your case I'd use 20mm -- to have shoulders approximately the same width all the way round -- in your case 12mm -- and for the tennon to extend 1/2 way through the leg -- in your case 45mm

Can I suggest you find a plan of a similar table and modify it to suit your slab?
a recent issue of Popular Woodworking (many libraries subscribe) had a plan for a slab table that could be adapted for your slab.
Tables have "critical dimensions" related to seating positions and matching chair dimensions which you really need to be across before building one "blind" as it were


Your other question re 1/3 or 1/2 sheet sander for sanding the top
do you really mean flattening and sanding or just sanding?
if the later, the 1/3 sheet will be a little slow but you'll get there.
If the former ... please get someone to help you

Thanks, I'll see if i can find a copy. I'm looking at a few ways of "flatenning" one end of the slab as it has cupped a bit and has a saw groove of about 2mm in the middle. The sanding question was about once i've removed this cup/groove, what sort of sander would be good. the 1/3 sheet sander takes forever, i mean FOREVER. it's better of as a paper weight. I was going to buy a 1/2 sheet but thought i may as well jump online and see what other people have used.

Checkout my home made "Triton Slabmaster" (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f187/m...le-wip-127595/) for a simple idea using angle iron and a router.

Don't forget the pics when you get started.

cheers
Derek

Originally Posted by derekh

Checkout my home made "Triton Slabmaster" (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f187/m...le-wip-127595/) for a simple idea using angle iron and a router.

Don't forget the pics when you get started.

cheers
Derek

yep, i'm sold, i think i will grab a couple lengths of 4x3 LVL or some falsework from work tomorrow and knock up something similiar.

Originally Posted by Gordo78

yep, i'm sold, i think i will grab a couple lengths of 4x3 LVL or some falsework from work tomorrow and knock up something similiar.

By chance, i managed to track down a local guy with a 1200mm wide thicknesser who would open up his factory on a saturday to put my slab through. It took 15 minutes this morning, and cost me all of $30. I was that happy with the result I gave him a a fifty and told him to keep the chnage for a 6 pack on the way home. I'll try and post the pics.