RxNolan Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Friend and I are wanting to get into woodworking and plan on starting a project tomorrow. Planning on doing a table and from everything we have read mortise and tenon is the way to go to connect the 6' table top lengthwise. Little timid to try it being our first project so we were thinking of using dowels. Is that a good decision and is there a rule of thumb of how many dowels to use per feet/by weight, what size to use, and the depth the dowels should be? I'm sure these are basic questions to most, but we were confused and wanted to do it the best way possible. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Don't fear the mortise and tennon and don't under do a project because it has a technique you haven't done before. There are hundreds of videos online of how to make a M&T. Watch a few, then practice a few times before starting on your table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Do you have a good doweling jig? If you don't I'd say forget about using dowels, it will be more frustrating than M&T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RxNolan Posted February 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 We do not have a dowel jig. Would lining up the dowels with a drill be to difficult? We thought about practing M&T on some scrap wood but weren't sure if we would do good enough work on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 1 minute ago, RxNolan said: We do not have a dowel jig. Would lining up the dowels with a drill be to difficult? Without a jig? Yeah, impossible. Like Brendon said, watch some M&T videos on youtube. If you have a table saw and a router, you can make M&T. If you don't have a table saw and router, you have some tools to buy first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RxNolan Posted February 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 3 minutes ago, Eric. said: If you don't have a table saw and router, you have some tools to buy first. We have a router and a table saw just weren't sure we could pull it off. Glad I asked first. Tomorrow would have been frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodDizzle Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 What kind of wood will you be using for your table? Starting a table as well and we decided to go with Pine since we are fairly new and I'm cheap...Any thoughts on pine for a beginner project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfessorChaos Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 35 minutes ago, RxNolan said: Planning on doing a table and from everything we have read mortise and tenon is the way to go to connect the 6' table top lengthwise. Are you referring to attaching the table top to the base? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 M&T is not a good way to join the boards for a table top, if that is what you are trying to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RxNolan Posted February 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 2 minutes ago, ProfessorChaos said: Are you referring to attaching the table top to the base? Attaching 2x6x6 length wise to one another. We thought about pine but will probably go with an oak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Just glue on the edge is all you need, as long as the edges are perfectly flat. This is a good video on the subject. http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/video/3-steps-to-great-glue-ups-edge-joints.aspx.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 2 minutes ago, Mike. said: Just glue on the edge is all you need, as long as the edges are perfectly flat. And clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfessorChaos Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Just now, Mike. said: Just glue on the edge is all you need, as long as the edges are perfectly flat. This is a good video on the subject. http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/video/3-steps-to-great-glue-ups-edge-joints.aspx.aspx This ^ Just make sure your TS blade is a perfect 90 degrees and you should have no trouble. And make sure you have enough clamps, of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RxNolan Posted February 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 8 minutes ago, Mike. said: M&T is not a good way to join the boards for a table top, if that is what you are trying to do. What is the best way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodDizzle Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Using 4 2x4s on our farmstyle table top. Will Glue work for boards that thick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxerjoe04 Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'd suggest to do a lot of reading and watch videos before attempting your table so you don't waste time and money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Just now, WoodDizzle said: Using 4 2x4s on our farmstyle table top. Will Glue work for boards that thick? yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RxNolan Posted February 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 8 minutes ago, Mike. said: Just glue on the edge is all you need, as long as the edges are perfectly flat. This is a good video on the subject. http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/video/3-steps-to-great-glue-ups-edge-joints.aspx.aspx Thank you sir. Will watch video and get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 8 minutes ago, RxNolan said: What is the best way? Edge gluing for making a solid tabletop, mortise and tenon for joining aprons to legs. Some folks will use a biscuit jointer or Festool domino for helping align boards for the tabletop glue up from shifting during clamping process, but do not consider this is a requirement for starting out. Then it is a matter of securing the top to the aprons/legs. This is where those whole "wood movement" rules come into play. I have seen some of those "L" shaped clip/brackets that you screw into the underside of the top and then secure that to the inside of the apron. http://www.rockler.com/table-top-fasteners http://www.rockler.com/desk-top-fasteners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 2 minutes ago, RxNolan said: Thank you sir. Will watch video and get back. Look for "laminated table tops". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxerjoe04 Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 One problem I see is the 2x4's at my local stores, even though they're kiln dried, still have a lot of moisture in them. So if you go buy them, glue them up right away, the top might be flat for now but not for long. I bought some awhile back, put them in my garage, one looked like a cork screw after a couple weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Oh I get it...we're starting from the VERY beginning. You have some basic stuff you need to learn before you plug any tools in. Watch this video series...Marc builds a basic A&C table and you'll learn some fundamentals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'd say go pine 2 by material might be overkill and in my opinion could make learning a bit more challenging. the 1 by pine around here is usually nice and dry and I've built a lot out of it just for junk furniture / learning. I have a lot of tables that I've made out of 1 x 6s and they are still standing. Another suggestion if you have a table saw and are going to cut wood any way. Grab 2x8s and rip them generally 2x8 8' long don't move through stores as fast are a different wood better quality and have a lot lower moisture content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfessorChaos Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 You can do a lot with a TS and router. Definitely watch some videos. I'm not sure how familiar you are with your equipment, but maybe build a couple jigs, cross cut sled, etc. to get a feel for the tools. And pine 1x, as Chestnut mentioned, is a good way to go. You're going to make mistakes, and pine is cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 Meh, hate to be contrary but construction pine from the home center is garbage. That stuff is for building houses. Go to a hardwood dealer and get some poplar or alder if you're worried about spending money. It'll be much more cooperative to work with and you'll have a higher quality piece when you're done. Also remember that the cost of materials almost always pales in comparison to the amount of labor you put into building something. So spend the money on nice materials. You'll regret building something out of junk once it's done. You'll stand back and say, "That's not bad...think how cool it would be if we would have used REAL wood." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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