help: fitting for fixing table top

[james]

hi

i got a 'farmhouse' style pine table from a charity shop, but the tabletop is not fixed to the legs/frame

four pieces of timber (about 4 1/2 inches deep by 3/4" thick) connect the legs to form a rectangular frame on which the table top sits. A slot has been routed all the way round on the inside face of these timbers, about 5/8" (15mm?) down from the top edge, the slot is square-edged, about 3/10" (8mm?) wide and the same deep.

i figure this slot must have been put there for a reason - ie for some (metal?) fitting that would fix the table top in place.

do you know if there is a suitable fitting for this purpose, and if so, what it's called & where i could get some (i'm in the UK)

thanks for your help james

[Bob Gramza]

This is probably what you are looking for. This is a US company but you should be able to get them in the UK from one of your local establishments.

[George Eversole Jr.]

Something like this?

james

[Bill Wallace]

The slot is for either a wooden or metal retainer clip. You should put a wooden clip (shaped like the one shown below) every few feet on all sides. Or, if you're lucky you can find a metal one that has the correct offset. It you can get a metal one that is less than 5/8" offset, you can put washers between it and the table top to get the correct alignment. For the wooden one, the tounge sticks into the slot and screw goes through the thick part into the bottom of the table top. This allows the table to expanp and contract without breaking it's connection to the apron. Make sure the tounge has some possibility in and out movement (ie, don't bottom it in the slot) and make sure the grain runs perpendicular to the edge of the tbale so the tounge won't easily split off. ______________ | | ___| | | | --------------------

BW

[maico]

It is meant for just that, attachment pieces. An easy way of making them is to cut small blocks with a height equal to the distance between the bottom of the table top and the bottom of the slot. I will assume 15/16" (based on your dimensions 5/8 & 3/10). Make the blocks 1" (min) wide, 15/16" thick and 1-1/2" long. Cut one side (the 1" wide side) back to make a rabbit. The depth of the rabbit should be 7/16". Drill a hole through the block. Now just center the table top on the legs (turn table upside down, easier) and screw the blocks into the bottom of the table with the rabbit slid into the slot. Allow approximately 1/8" gap between the end of the rabbit and the bottom of the slot to allow for table top expansion. Place a block near each corner on all sides (8 blocks total) and then add at least one in the middle of each side.

Hope this helps. Fine Woodworking magazine just had an article in one of the recent issues (around #160) on multiple table top attachment methods; this was one of them.

Ciao for now,

Maico