Basic (Temporary) Dining Table

[jonny round boy]

A couple of family members have invited themselves over for Christmas dinner this year, so we've got more people coming than we thought. Our small, folding dining table won't seat everyone, so I was thinking of building a temporary table from basic materials.

It'll just be a softwood frame, with 18mm (3/4") WBP plywood top. The top will be covered with the tablecloth anyway, so won't be seen.

I'm planning on the following:

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Legs - 69x69 finish (ex-3"x3")
Rails - 94x18 finish (ex-4"x1")
Top - 1950x1050 (approx. 77"x41")

I reckon once I pick the timber up (I already have some ply) I can knock it up in under an hour. After the meal, I'll just dismantle it & put the materials into my stock.

My question is, given the overall size will this be strong enough? I was thinking maybe I need to add a centre rail too? If so, should I run it lengthways or widthways?

Cheers,

JRB

 

[Brice Burrell]

I don't know, the good news is it won't be hard to do after the table is assembled if it needs to be added. I'd be interested it the time it takes, get out the stop watch and report back.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

My question is, given the overall size will this be strong enough? I was thinking maybe I need to add a centre rail too? If so, should I run it lengthways or widthways?

The method of joining the legs to the rails will play a large part in the stability and strength of the table. How were you planning on doing that?

As regards a second set of horizontal rails, you need to ensure that they are high enough so that your guests will be able to sit with their legs under the table.

Since the tablecloth will probably drape some way down towards the floor, you could perhaps use 8 triangular wooden strengthening pieces in the 90 degree corners where the vertical legs join the horizontal rails.

Alternatively, 8 diagonal braces could be placed at the corners:

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Forrest

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I wouldn't want to dance on it, but short of that I think it would  be plenty strong without a center rail.   Fastening the ply to the rails should make it very stable and strong.  Might want to assemble it in place - its gonna be heavy.

 

[danrush]

My family would only warrant some ply on a couple of saw horses ( out in the garage )  That said, I agree with Jesse, the top should be more than adequate.  I've used site work tables with thinner top material with MUCH heavier loads than a Christmas turkey or ham, with no ill effects.

Dan

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi JRB,

The fastest way to build a good table is to select stock for the legs (100 x 100mm - ~4" x 4") is about right and material can be anything knot free you have around or can glue up.  Plan the table top to be about 29" high.  It doesn't sound like you have time to get a glued up finished maple work table top (the best for this application) so use plywood or whatever.  The legs are the only thing that will show if you put a table cloth on it anyway.  Plan on skirts about 4" or so deep (no less than 3" nor more than 6").  Start that far down from the top of your leg and draw a pleasing curve that ends 1" from the far edge of your leg.  IE:  if your leg is 4" x 4" and your skirt is 4" start 4" down from the top of your leg and draw your pleasing curve to end 1" from the outboard edge of the 4" leg blank.  Copy that pleasing curve onto 1/8" plywood, masonite or foam board and smooth the curves to make a fair edge on your template.  Draw that curve onto two sides of each of the four legs.  Before you do any cutting of the leg curves, plow a female dovetail from the top of each leg down 3.5", 1" from what will become the outside edge of each leg.  You will have two dovetail grooves in each leg, each one centered 1" from what will be the outside of each leg.  Now cut skirts the proper length you want between the legs plus twice the depth of your female dovetail grooves.  Cut male DTs on each end of each skirt piece.  Make the male dovetails a good snug fit into the female DT grooves.  Now cut the leg curves on one side of each leg.  Save the cut off piece and use blue painters tape to tape it back in place.  Tip each piece and cut the other side of the leg curve.  Remove the taped piece and you will have four very pleasing cabrio legs for your temporary table.  Use your RO150 or other RO sander to sand the leg curves nice and smooth.  Go up to 320 grit on soft woods and 600 grit on hard woods.  Do the same for the skirts.  Finish the legs and skirts as you wish and assemble.  Your table and skit unit will be very stable and you do not need any glue or fasteners.  The sliding DT joints will provide all the structure you need.  (total time to this point, about 1 to 3 hours)  Use your Domino to cut blind mortises along the top edges of the inside of the skirts.  Make the domino slots wide and centered 10 to 15mm below the top edge of the skirt.  Three along the long side and two along the short sides.  Cut and place the top centered on the leg and skirt assembly.  I like 2" to 4" overhangs all around.  Cut some scrap stock with a tongue that is a bit less than the distance between the top edge of you Domino mortise and the under side of the table.  Drill through those blocks so they can be screwed to the underside of your table top with the tongues projecting inside the Domino mortises in the skirts.  That will hold the top in place but allow plenty of wood movement.  Now quickly finish your "master piece" table with whatever.  Remember, only the legs will show and they will exhibit the lovely curved cabrio look that will cause your guests to pull up the table cloth to also see the blind skirt to leg DT joints so do a nice job with your finish.  Water based conversion varnish acquired locally will do the trick, or paint them if you want to cover the wood.  Note:  any well sanded wood without knots will look great finished with a clear WB conversion varnish so don't labor over wood selection.  Total time to completion 2 to 5 hours.  Number of at-a-boy complements - priceless..........  Chances are your spouse will not allow you to tear this one down and trash it.  He/she will insist on taking it apart and saving all the pieces for the next party.  Hope this helps.

Jerry

A couple of family members have invited themselves over for Christmas dinner this year, so we've got more people coming than we thought. Our small, folding dining table won't seat everyone, so I was thinking of building a temporary table from basic materials.

It'll just be a softwood frame, with 18mm (3/4") WBP plywood top. The top will be covered with the tablecloth anyway, so won't be seen.

I'm planning on the following:

[attachthumb=1]

[attachthumb=2]

Legs - 69x69 finish (ex-3"x3")
Rails - 94x18 finish (ex-4"x1")
Top - 1950x1050 (approx. 77"x41")

I reckon once I pick the timber up (I already have some ply) I can knock it up in under an hour. After the meal, I'll just dismantle it & put the materials into my stock.

My question is, given the overall size will this be strong enough? I was thinking maybe I need to add a centre rail too? If so, should I run it lengthways or widthways?

Cheers,

JRB

 

[Mirko]

Jerry,

He's building a... somewhat temporary table, Not a piano...
Johnny Round Boy's family and guests are planning to use this table this year, So cut us some slack would yeah? Dovetails, tapered legs, wood movement??.... come on man, its one night.

JRB,
Back to the task at hand... and with only five days till Christmas, no less.

If you scab enough 2X4 together with plenty of screws, it should withstand even the most chaotic of family dinners.

How bout this...
On the floor, Make a 2x4 frame 90" x 42" (outside), attach your 4 legs, then box around the legs with 2x4's to strengthen it up. Add four gusset studs.. 2 on each long side, then stand it up. Chuck a sheet of 3/4 ply on top... screw it down..  your done... and it even has a nice 3" overhang!

Oh hey, (idea) if you put enough Festools out the night of the dinner, you may be able to talk your guest into building this thing for you [laughing]

Have a Marry one!

Mirko

 

[jonny round boy]

Thanks everyone for comments - I'm planning on using 3x 8mm dowels plus pocket screws to join the rails & legs. Quick, easy, and easily dismantled. Still no domino...  [crying]

Oh, and it will be assembled in situ (no other alternative!).

I'll post pics when I build it....

 

[mohrab]

You guys work too hard!  Cut two half rounds out of a sheet of plywood, hinge them together and lay it over your card table.  When done, fold it up and store it in the back of your closet for next time.

 

[Jerry Work]

Ya, I know Mirko, but it is not much harder to build something temporary that is nice than it is to build something temporary that you want to hide from.  Besides, some may think it is fun to learn new ways of doing things......

Jerry

Jerry,

He's building a... somewhat temporary table, Not a piano...
Johnny Round Boy's family and guests are planning to use this table this year, So cut us some slack would yeah? Dovetails, tapered legs, wood movement??.... come on man, its one night.

JRB,
Back to the task at hand... and with only five days till Christmas, no less.

If you scab enough 2X4 together with plenty of screws, it should withstand even the most chaotic of family dinners.

How bout this...
On the floor, Make a 2x4 frame 90" x 42" (outside), attach your 4 legs, then box around the legs with 2x4's to strengthen it up. Add four gusset studs.. 2 on each long side, then stand it up. Chuck a sheet of 3/4 ply on top... screw it down..  your done... and it even has a nice 3" overhang!

Oh hey, (idea) if you put enough Festools out the night of the dinner, you may be able to talk your guest into building this thing for you [laughing]

Have a Marry one!

Mirko

 

[jonny round boy]

OK, well I picked the timber up from my local 'shed' around 7 this evening.

Cut the pieces to length with my Kapex, then rounded over the edges with my OF1400 and a 1/4" roundover bit - all 4 corners & one end of the legs, and the 2 bottom edges of the rails.

Gave everything a quick sand with the ETS150 and 120 grit.

Drilled for the dowels in the legs & short rails, and drilled for the pocket screws (at he above stages I'd forgotten to take photos, too!).

After discussions with SWMBO, we're probably going to end up dismantling the table but keeping it for future use. With this in mind I decided to glue up the legs & short rails, with just the long rails being removable.

Here are the short rail & leg assemblies, glued up & clamped:

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And a close-up:

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Seems my 1 hour time estimate was a bit out (as usual!) - so far, I've spent about an hour and 10 mins on it (not including picking the timber up). I've just got to drill the long rails & cut the 3/4 ply top, so it should come in at about 90 mins...

 

[jonny round boy]

Well, the table worked well - despite my concerns it was plenty strong enough without any additional support at all!

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[Mac]

Looks very respectable Jonny, nicely done.

Happy new year.
Rick

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Well done JRB.  I wouldn't hesitate to dance on that one if I were younger.

@Mirko, well done - just set out of some festools and let the guests build it for you - I might try that sometime!!