How would I attach these legs to a table-top?

[UnluckyForSome]

Hi There,

First time poster and complete woodworking novice here, I recently acquired a rather nice bit of wood which was spare from a bespoke kitchen fitting - which I'm looking to turn into a coffee table, I've looked online for legs and the below are the only ones online I really like (I know i'll need skirts too) -

My question is how would I attach these legs (photo attached) to the table-top, as they seem to have an odd circular hole on the end... Is this hole for a massive dowel?

Many thanks!

 

[undergroundhunter]

Yes the hole is for a dowel and that's how I would attach them. Normally for something like a table I would prefer mortice and tenon but in your case its going to be difficult to use that method. Why not have a go at making similar legs but without the hole, this would mean you could chop mortices in them to receive tenons from the rails therefore making for easier construction.

matt

 

[Dee J]

Keep it simple... Plug those dowel holes then use a set of these to the assemble the legs and rails. Then use small brackets to fix the top. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Table-corner-b ... B00INBHKPQ
Not fine woodwork, but still a good solid assembly.

 

[ED65]

(I know i'll need skirts too)

A skirt of apron is not a must-have on something the size of a typical coffee table which isn't too wide, and particularly if it won't have much weight put on it you can just have legs attached at the four corners you would prefer that look. But the thickness of the piece of wood you've saved for the top is a factor, the thinner it is the more you need some sort of framework underneath to prevent bowing.

If you do go with a skirt you need to figure how you're going to attach the pieces to the legs, which traditionally is done using mortise-and-tenon joinery. That's probably more than you want to get into at the mo so I'd suggest you use pocket screws instead. No need to buy a commercial jig for the pocket screws if you don't want to, you can do it without a jig or knock up a simple one yourself from a chunk of scrap wood.

 

[Brentingby]

I agree with Dee J. since you're new to woodworking, do keep it simple. Those corner brackets will work well to attach aprons to the legs. You can then attach the top to the aprons.

 

[UnluckyForSome]

Thanks for the help , but how would I attach the top to the aprons? Sorry for being such a rookie!

 

[Brentingby]

There are a variety of table top fasteners including figure-8 and Z-clips. Links from another thread. about that.

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/tabl ... spk12.aspx
http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/pa ... 1306,41309
http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/pa ... 1312,50311

Or you could make you own small blocks to hold screws to the inside of the aprons and to the underside of the top.

If you make the top out of solid wood you need to allow for season expansion/contraction across the grain.

 

[ED65]

Thanks for the help , but how would I attach the top to the aprons? Sorry for being such a rookie!

Simplest way for you I think is to use what are called shrinkage plates or table stretcher plates. They look like this:

You'll only need four for something this size but they'll come in handy for any future table you build so don't worry if you can only get a pack of 20 or something like that.

 

[Chris152]

Thanks for the help , but how would I attach the top to the aprons? Sorry for being such a rookie!

Simplest way for you I think is to use what are called shrinkage plates or table stretcher plates. They look like this:

You'll only need four for something this size but they'll come in handy for any future table you build so don't worry if you can only get a pack of 20 or something like that.

I'm about to attach a coffee table top to the legs. Previously I've drilled an oversize hole and screwed through it with a washer to hold the screw at the right depth to do this, but I'm tempted to use these clips this time. Is it a cop out? The table is quite modern looking and rectilinear.

Thanks for any thoughts.

C

 

[ED65]

Some people may consider them a cop out but as far as you're concerned they're only one if you think so. An argument could be made that any alternative to the method that requires the most work (buttons) is a cop out :lol:

Clips like these (and other metal fittings of various designs) are specifically made for this purpose. The thing is they're not the/a traditional way of attaching tabletops, and that I think is the main objection to their use. They don't work better, or worse, than one or another of the traditional methods although they are probably the fastest.

Obviously how they look would bother some makers too, that's a call everyone has to make for themselves.

 

[Chris152]

Obviously how they look would bother some makers too, that's a call everyone has to make for themselves.

I think you've hit the mail on the head here. To be honest, I don't think they look great, at least not for the piece I'm working on. But I also don't think traditional wooden buttons hit the mark either, so think I'll go down the oversize hole, screw and washer route again.
Thanks for your thoughts ED65.

 

[beech1948]

I would consider using these legs just as they are. A large dowel in the leg and into the top wouyld act as a loose tenon except its circular. Ok for a coffee table.

If you still want skirts then simply dowel the skirt into the leg even if through the larger dowel in the leg ( insert that first of course) . Would be plenty strong enough for a coffee table.

This benefits from being a KISS recommendation