Round folding table

[Simonwcutwood]

Hello - first time posting. how is this l shaped cut made on the fold of this table. I want to replicate the table. Many thanks, Simon

 

[Inspector]

Welcome to the forum. That one is easily replicated with a router or a table saw. A nicer one is called a rule joint. Do a search for it and you will find lots of info about making them including YouTube videos.

Pete

 

[AndyT]

While not disagreeing at all with Inspector, I'll add that you could easily plane the rebates with most types of rebate plane or combination plane.
What sort of tools do you have?
Do you want to use machine tools or hand tools?

There are many right answers.

 

[Simonwcutwood]

Thank you Inspector and Andy T. I have a chop saw, circular saw, drill and driver + many other hand held tools chisels etc (I'm very much on the first few steps to making nicer things in wood!). I was going to buy a hand held router and make a jig to cut straight. I am challenged by the fact that once I cut the circle shape I then will have to cut the 2 joint lines, by doing so I will loose just a bit of the width and so after I have routed the two sides the circle won't be a perfect circle. Any further tips welcome, thank you

 

[RichardG]

Another option for the joint is to to bevel the table underneath. I’ve attached a picture of our Ercol table which does this. The only downside I can see is that the hinge is visible when the flap is down but personally I think it looks neater.

 

[Dee J]

.... I am challenged by the fact that once I cut the circle shape I then will have to cut the 2 joint lines, by doing so I will loose just a bit of the width and so after I have routed the two sides the circle won't be a perfect circle. Any further tips welcome, thank you

Which sets a working sequence. Sort out the joint/hinge lines first between some roughed out pieces of wood. Only cut the final circle when you're happy with the fit.

 

[Simonwcutwood]

Dee J - that's a "duh" moment, yes of course that's the way to do it, thank you.

 

[Yojevol]

Dee J - that's a "duh" moment, yes of course that's the way to do it, thank you.

That's a pretty general way to go about things. Get the joints done first while you've flat faces and true edges to reference from. Do all the shaping and fancy bits as late as possible.
Brian

 

[Simonwcutwood]

Hello - now I have a question about tapering the wood legs of this table. How do you taper wood with limited tools?

 

[AndyT]

Hello - now I have a question about tapering the wood legs of this table. How do you taper wood with limited tools?

First plane the legs straight and square. Next, mark and cut any joints - normally mortices for the rails.

Then mark the tapers by measuring where you want the taper to start and finish, positioning a straight edge and drawing a line between them.

Many table legs only taper on two faces. Think carefully about how you want yours to look.

On a small table, I would just plane down to the lines, first on one side, then draw a new line on the exposed face, then the other.

For bigger legs it might be worth sawing off the bulk before planing.

 

[Simonwcutwood]

Thanks Andy - so I would plane by hand sides, correct Any recommendation on a decent plane that would do the job?

 

[AndyT]

Thanks Andy - so I would plane by hand sides, correct Any recommendation on a decent plane that would do the job?

I think the best answer I can give is to link to a little table project I described on here a couple of years ago. I wrote it up in great detail, with lots of pondering about the design and digressions about the tools I used, so it's quite a long read.

I made the joints in the legs on page 2:

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/small-walnut-side-table-with-drawer.109429/page-2
and got onto the tapering on page 4.
In my case I did most of the work with a 5 1/2 but it depends on what you have and how big the legs are.