Hi,
I have some timber Im recycling into a 3.5 x 0.8m outdoor table with pedestal legs. I usually just clamp the boards together and screw them down onto a subframe and sand it flat. However, a mate, encouraged me to dowel the table, which Ive done for the first three boards. Ive only lightly hand planed the board sides. Seems to be going ok so far. See added pictures
I really like the doweling. Soooooooooo, I was wondering if I could pull the screws out of the sub frame (again see pictures) and dowel, via gluing and clamping, with 12.5mm Tasmanian oak dowel. This would mean there would be no screws showing and the table would look great from the side as well as having a good strong wood based structure, AND then can I dowel the table top onto this sub-frame instead of screwing the table from underneath. This would mean I could not only have a firm hold between the subframe and the table top, but also have a nice pattern of dowels across the top of the table top.
I cant find any examples of tables that have the table top dowelled to the legs or subframe. This is actually why I joined this forum. Will the table top just work its way up off the vertical dowels after a few years?
Thanks in advanceTable work 1.jpgTable work 2.jpgTable Three boards clamped.jpgTable sub frame skirt.jpgTable side screws.jpgTable End screws.jpg