Attaching Table Legs

[Phil]

I;m building a table with a top that's 1 1/2" thick, 68" long and 42" wide. I want to attach 5" thick legs but don't want to use the usual skirts to do it. So, I've been thinking about routing out 1/3 - 3/4" on the underside of the table for the legs and then pinning through the top into the legs so the pins will show to for effect. Any thoughts on where I would go wrong?

[Bob S.]

Think I would opt for a wedged tennon. The top is thick enough and the leg beefy enough for a M&T joint which hopefully will withstand any racking forces placed on the table when someone moves it. Splaying the legs out slightly would also help prevent any racking on the joint.

This type of joinery is often used on step stools and is plenty strong.

Bob S.

[Frank McVey]

Ah hae ma doots, laddie. The joint you suggest isn't mechanically strong. This is going to be a pretty heavy table, so people aren't going to lift it. If it needs moving, they'll try to push it, putting a large turning moment on those fairly weak joints. The rails are there for a reason!

If you're not into rails, another traditional style would be to make a simple refectory-type base. Something like:

construction of this isn't too obvious from the photo, but the legs are M&T'd into the foot. The top of the end trestle is a slightly smaller version of the foot, and there are usually 2 longitudinal stretchers: one between the lower ends of the trestles, and one between the upper ends, supporting the top. The stretchers often have their tenons run right through the trestle ends, which are then secured by wedges. Nice talking point, and it allows the table to be easily taken apart for transpot.

This construction lends itself more to a long narrow table: Your table is pretty wide, so you'd want to consider widening the feet so that the table is less likely to tip if someone puts their weight on one of the long top edges.

The top is often held on using slotted steel plates to allow for the top swelling and shrinking.

HTH

Frank

[Frank McVey]

Um. Forgot to mention in my other post that the style I was referring to is item 4 on the url given.

[Phil]

You're right about the table being heavy. Good catch on the "not lifting". I'm really looking for something very simple looking and yet unusual. The table shown on the URL are too ornate. That's why I was wanting to do away with the skirting. However, you make a good point, "The railes are there for a reason" and duely noted.

[Roy Smith]

What about using bed bolts through the top into the ends of the legs, like you would attach the rails of a bed to the corner posts?

[Dan Parrell]