Table - legs need to attach to the frame?

Submitted by jimboski93 on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 13:58

I'm building a dining table and my fiance and I are designing the table ourselves.

I am going to build a frame underneath the tabletop to help hold the tabletop together, although the tabletop boards will be joined to each other horizontally by pocket holes (kreg jig).

We decided we'd like to support the table with only two column-type legs created by joining four wide boards.

My question is - can't we just attach the legs directly to the table top? It seems unnecessary to attached the legs to the frame (this would also be inconvenient to our plan).

Just looking for comments.

claydowling

Wed, 11/02/2011 - 09:25

There are ways you can securely attach legs directly to the top, but they're a bit difficult to pull off. You'd be better attaching them to the frame, where they can form a more secure joint.

The chief thing you need to keep in mind is that you don't want a screw running into end-grain, because end-grain doesn't have any holding strength.

I wrote a little bit about the subject of table legs at knockdowndesk.com, because I learned some of these lessons the hard way.

There's also a reason that a lot of tables use more complex joints like mortise and tenon joints. These joints provide a lot more strength at a point where the stresses on the wood can be pretty powerful.

Guest (not verified)

Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:22

I would love to build one of the farm tables, but I don't want it all one piece. A table that is 96 inches long would not fit through a door if we have to move. How can I build a table so I can easily remove the legs, but still have it be sturdy?

In reply to by Guest (not verified)

claydowling

Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:24

If you look at the photos and read the text at knockdowndesk.com you can get some pointers. I should write up a longer blog post on the subject though.