This is one of two posts on making this table. The post on finishing up is here.
Children
The Cut List
Here are the pieces that I used to make this table.
- The table top: 23″x23″x7/8″. This extra little bit of thickness makes if feel more sturdy. If you can’t get a hold of 7/8″ thick wood, use 3/4″ thick for the table top and legs.
- The Legs: 4 pieces, 1 7/8″x17 1/2″x7/8″
- Support Piece. Because the legs are not square we need two lengths for a square frame.
- Two longer pieces: 3″x17″x3/4″
- Two Shorter Pieces: 3″x15″x3/4″
You will also need four figure 8 tabletop connectors, 8 3/4 ” long screws, and 8 biscuits, and some glue.
The only piece here that could really give you problems for the sizing is the table top. Due to lack of 23″ boards around, I just took some boards and glued them together on the edges using basic wood glue and clamps, and let it set overnight. Make sure you leave the ends long when you do the clamping. Trim it all at one time. You can use a tablesaw, a circular saw, a sliding miter saw, or even a handsaw. Make sure you get the cut straight by using a fence or clamping on a piece of wood as a guide.
After the table top dried I used a chisel to scrape off the glue from the glue up and used a hand planer to level it. In one spot where the grain got interesting, I had to go to scapers and a sander. I finished sanding down the top using 220 grit so there would be a smooth surface for writing.
Cutting the legs was fairly simple. I used biscuits to attach the legs. In the following picture, note that the support pieces are set 1/8″ back from the outer edge of the legs. You can use pocket hole screws for this also, with a jig (I use the Kreg jig). Think about predrilling, as these screws have a higher chance of splitting if they are screwed into the end of a board
The Alignment of the Supports
The offset is great for two reasons. The look is good, and it keeps a potentially uneven edge on the inside. I aligned the biscuit joints with the back side of the legs on the 7/8″ side and used a 1/8″spacer on the front side. This picture is from a slightly different table, but the concept is the same.
Note the White Spacer
You are done except for cutting the grooves for the figure 8 pieces in two of the support pieces. This post has me doing it for some chairs I just made, and the concept should be the same (look at the bottom). Keep these slots for the figure 8 pieces close to the ends of the boards.
Give everything a sand down and then, on to assembly!
Can you give an estimate as to what the materials cost to make this table?