Farm table question

[GOVOLS]

I am building a big farm table with 2 inch thick top and 5 inch turned legs

How do you guys strengthen the base corners. On smaller tables I have cut a 3/4 dado in the aprons and made and attached home made corner blocks with screws.

Also what is your favorite way to attach a top to the base. On smaller tables I have made wooden clips and again cut a 1/4 groove for these

This table is big and heavy.

[Ray Newman]

Would this Lee Valley hardware work?:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Hardware/pag...&cat=3,43586

[rwe2156]

An apron mortised in to the legs is the best way.
Depending on length, you may need cross support in middle.
I would make the aprons thicker than normal.
A top this thick is more prone to sagging.

Attaching top many ways best to allow for movement like clips.
Glue blocks, 8 clips, cleats, etc.

[Steve N]

rwe2156 said:

---

An apron mortised in to the legs is the best way.
Depending on length, you may need cross support in middle.
I would make the aprons thicker than normal.
A top this thick is more prone to sagging.

Attaching top many ways best to allow for movement like clips.
Glue blocks, 8 clips, cleats, etc.

---

In addition to the mortised in skirts I would also add the corner supports already shown if it is a big table, as in heavy. Cross supports also make sense unless you are also using hardware for extension to add leafs/leaves. If that is the case then they might be used, but only after determining their placement will not interrupt the movement of the table, or addition of the leaf.

[PaulC]

I'm sorry, but why would a two inch thick table top sag?
I think you could dispense with the aprons entirely, except that it would add an element of difficulty to fastening the legs...

[Anji12305]

First thing I thought, reading this thread.

Expense, seasonal movement and weight all argue against this.
It would be easy enough to rip the outermost boards and "roll" them 90 degrees for a solid grain match and greater strength.

Table tops longer than 6 feet need a proper apron, or an additional floor support in the middle to prevent deflection under load.

[dg152]

I just completed a similar style of table for one of my neighbors. She provided me with 4 - 9'x12"x2" walnut planks and told me to make a table.

As you noted, a table top this thick and long is pretty heavy so it requires a pretty solid base. I made the aprons with 2 laminated 3/4" thick pieces of poplar (total thickness was 1-1/2 inches). Then I placed the legs in each corner along with an angled cross piece (see photo). I drilled holes through the apron into the base of each leg then installed threaded brass inserts so that the leg would be bolted on three sides.

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/dg152/m...4.jpg.html

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/dg152/m...1.jpg.html

Here's a shot of the completed leg/apron assembly:

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/dg152/m...2.jpg.html

Here are some shots of the completed table. I attached the walnut top to the poplar apron using pocket hole screws.

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/dg152/m...5.jpg.html

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/dg152/m...5.jpg.html

Let me know if you have any questions. Always happy to share out of the abundance of my ignorance!

[macpiano]

You need these for your table legs. Just kidding of course but it holds up the end of my daughters granite island.

[Kansas City Fireslayer]

I started a table with 5" legs and a 6/4 top similar to yours this summer. It's sitting now but the top is pretty much done awaiting the apron. I'm planning on M/T joinery for the apron, corner blocks, and metal clips dadoed in the apron and attached with screws to the top. My top weighs over 100 lbs so I don't really see it going anywhere after the clips. If I get ambitious, I'll use wood "buttons" mortised into the aprons. I think a deep and thick M/T is the most important part of the table integrity. I plan on using at least 5/4 if not 6/4" aprons for an extra thick tenon.

[mcgbanker]

Sounds like a challenging project but the results can be very rewarding. That table will outlast you, so I think you are smart for seeking out advice on its construction.

I made a similar table for my oldest daughter, although it was slightly smaller. The top was about 1.5 inches thick and the legs were about 4 inch turned legs.. I joined the aprons to the legs with M/ T joints and braced the corners with hanger screws and bolts. Also added some additional cross braces (dados in the aprons), and this made it very solid. Should work well for a table like the one you are building.

Took a few pictures, so hopefully they might be useful to you:

http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/mcgban...amp;page=1

Good luck with your table project!