Low coffee table

[load2go]

Im having a problem securing the 9x2 planks to the underside of the low coffee table. I used 200mm decking screws, counter sunk 3/4mm then covered with dowel. After the legs have been knocked about a few times they seem loose, I think the screw heads may be pulling through the table top.

Ive seen them advertised that they have used 12mm doweling straight through. Would this be secure if glue was used on the dowels also?

I need these to be secure, simple and nothing visible underneath if thats possible.

 

[blackrodd]

Screws could be overly long as they only need be double the thickness as the top ie, 2x50mm =100mm.
Top not held/clamped firmly enough, when being fixed in place
Could be that you had debris under the top where you had pre drilled, or screw sunk the screw hole, You should have
two screws each side of each piece.
Or even the timber is shrinking, as I believe you may have mentioned using unseasoned timber on another thread.
HTH Regards Rodders

 

[John15]

Brackets will stiffen the joint between the legs and top. You could make them from wood to match the rest of the table.

John

 

[load2go]

Screws could be overly long as they only need be double the thickness as the top ie, 2x50mm =100mm.
Top not held/clamped firmly enough, when being fixed in place
Could be that you had debris under the top where you had pre drilled, or screw sunk the screw hole, You should have
two screws each side of each piece.
Or even the timber is shrinking, as I believe you may have mentioned using unseasoned timber on another thread.
HTH Regards Rodders

Hi Rodders, thanks for you're reply. This timber is kiln dried, two screws in each board, ether side. Legs are 24cm.
Im going to take the dowels out and see if I can tighten up the screws.

In future do you think hammering 6 inch 12mm glued doweling through might make more secure?

 

[blackrodd]

Screws could be overly long as they only need be double the thickness as the top ie, 2x50mm =100mm.
Top not held/clamped firmly enough, when being fixed in place
Could be that you had debris under the top where you had pre drilled, or screw sunk the screw hole, You should have
two screws each side of each piece.
Or even the timber is shrinking, as I believe you may have mentioned using unseasoned timber on another thread.
HTH Regards Rodders

Hi Rodders, thanks for you're reply. This timber is kiln dried, two screws in each board, ether side.
Im going to take the dowels out and see if I can tighten up the screws.

In future do you think hammering 6 inch 12mm glued doweling through might make more secure?

load2go,
Unless the screws are pulling through (I assume that you are using larger gauge screws) I really can't think of any other reason for a loose top, other than those given.
Perhaps do what john said and make up some discreet brackets or use shrinkage plates, and keep away from dowel glueing in the short term.
Sorry I can't be more helpful Regards Rodders

 

[=Adam=]

One way would be to rebate the legs into the top, this should help to restrain any movement in the legs.

 

[load2go]

Thanks for all your replies.
I've managed to make them secure. I took all the screws out, this time I used glue and clamped the legs down tight before replacing the screws.

 

[blackrodd]

Thanks for all your replies.
I've managed to make them secure. I took all the screws out, this time I used glue and clamped the legs down tight before replacing the screws.

Hopefully, no more problems now!
Regards Rodders

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Im having a problem securing the 9x2 planks to the underside of the low coffee table.

Plenty of reasons for a wobbly table here, mostly down to iffy design.

The top boards will expand and contract seasonally across the width, whereas the legs have the grain running the opposite direction, so will move little. This will weaken the connection over time.

The legs form quite a lever. If you push sideways on one end of the table, you have a 9" vertical lever, then 1" between the corner of the leg and the screw position. Thus amplifying the horizontal force into 9x that, distributed as tension in however many screws you use. In short the leg acts a bit like a crowbar trying to pull the screw through the top or out of the leg.