Popular Post FlyinFish Posted March 1, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 With a 1 year old running around the house I haven't been in the shop for a very long time. We got a new couch and needed a nice c-table. I struggled a bit with the design. I wanted to use white oak and have a traditional look with a touch of modern. I also wanted some exposed joinery. Bridle joints for the legs and I don't know what to call the top bar joint. The top is attached with a widthwise tenon. I was worried about strength of that joint, but it seems rock solid. Natural Oak Minwax stain and oil+poly wipe on finish. I made like half a doze rookie mistakes throughout the build. It's amazing the basic things I forgot after not building anything for over a year. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm not certain what to call that top joint, either. Through dado, maybe? Anyway, the table looks great. How are the top's side rails (breadboards?) attached to the legs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Be darned if I’ve ever seen the leg to top joint before and not sure how much movement you’ll be getting but, it looks cool now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 I like It. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 1 hour ago, FlyinFish said: I don't know what to call the top bar joint I imagine if one were to dig around in some older books you might find something like "tongue and dado", maybe. Looks like a nice little project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 That is a nice looking table. I would like to know more about the joint between the breadboards and the center panel of the top. Are they attached yet allow for wood movement ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Very nice looking table. We are needing something similar. I'm tired of using the Wal-Mart-rubber-wood TV trays that have followed me around for decades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Table looks nice.. Was thinking about one to eat supper on but a big dish and my belly seem to be working out pretty well this time of year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 That's a nice looking piece, and for sure very useful. But I'm going to offer a little critique, even though you didn't ask for it. The joint between the top & legs would be much stronger if the tenon was in the center of the leg rather than the edge. There is no strength to the part above the tenon & excess downward force (like maybe a kid sitting on it ) on the top will pop that piece off the top of the leg. If the tenon was in the center there would be the long grain to keep the top from breaking off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 12 hours ago, drzaius said: That's a nice looking piece, and for sure very useful. But I'm going to offer a little critique, even though you didn't ask for it. The joint between the top & legs would be much stronger if the tenon was in the center of the leg rather than the edge. There is no strength to the part above the tenon & excess downward force (like maybe a kid sitting on it ) on the top will pop that piece off the top of the leg. If the tenon was in the center there would be the long grain to keep the top from breaking off. I had just the same thought. In structural engineering terms, you've got one line to shear off instead of two, plus that little cantilevered piece will be subject to bending stresses. A dowel driven through the top of each could fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFish Posted March 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 Thanks guys. We do all of our table top dancing on the dining table, so I think this should be okay holding up a pint of beer or two. This isn't intended to be like a coffee table. Some c-tables are bigger and higher, but this style is low and small. It's just for resting a drink and remotes/phone on. The breadboard ends on the top are tongue and groove. I'm fully aware of the movement risk and figure this will be a good experiment for that :). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 13 minutes ago, FlyinFish said: Thanks guys. We do all of our table top dancing on the dining table... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 24 minutes ago, FlyinFish said: We do all of our table top dancing on the dining table I like him already and he hasn’t been on here long enough to warrant such affection Pics please to justify that you really belong. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 10 hours ago, Isaac said: I had just the same thought. In structural engineering terms, you've got one line to shear off instead of two, plus that little cantilevered piece will be subject to bending stresses. A dowel driven through the top of each could fix it. Much better said. Sometimes I wish I spoke Engineer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 1 minute ago, drzaius said: Much better said. Sometimes I wish I spoke Engineer Only in a forum like this would someone ever say that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 Recognition of risk and trying it anyways as an experiment, sounds like something I would do ! I build quite a few small pieces for specific locations & purposes in my house. Most are built with leftover materials. I understand their limitations but I wouldn't readily build something that way for clients or family. Your "C" table might not fit a different sofa but you can enjoy it and build a different one in the future. I predict a child using it as a diving board may lead to its demise before the joinery is an issue . I'm certain that my puppy will damage a few things before I get him trained. Am I correct that parents have a similar outlook ? All of my children have had fur. The table looks good with the sofa. No one will notice the details that this crowd have pointed out. I hope a little constructive critique isn't taken personally. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 I like the table and it seems to me that it will be useful. The risk is somebody will sit on it. A visitor or guest with no bad intentions. If that can be avoided it will last for a long time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFish Posted March 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 I think folks aren't familiar with this more modern style of table. No one is going to sit on this thing. Most of our friends have some form of these tables and no one has ever sat on one or stood on one. It's inherently a weak design. That's what allows it to slide under the couch. If it had 4 legs, it couldn't do that. You can add support in other ways, but it adds bulkiness. So, yes, it's generally susceptible to damage if misused. And it's definitely not an heirloom piece. Just a pretty place to rest a cocktail. If someone breaks it, they'll get a spanking, young or old 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 1 hour ago, wdwerker said: The table looks good with the sofa. No one will notice the details that this crowd have pointed out. I hope a little constructive critique isn't taken personally. Absolutely. The table looks great. Please don't let my comment detract from that in any way. Was just a minor suggestion for the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFish Posted March 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 4 hours ago, wdwerker said: Recognition of risk and trying it anyways as an experiment, sounds like something I would do ! I build quite a few small pieces for specific locations & purposes in my house. Most are built with leftover materials. I understand their limitations but I wouldn't readily build something that way for clients or family. Your "C" table might not fit a different sofa but you can enjoy it and build a different one in the future. I predict a child using it as a diving board may lead to its demise before the joinery is an issue . I'm certain that my puppy will damage a few things before I get him trained. Am I correct that parents have a similar outlook ? All of my children have had fur. The table looks good with the sofa. No one will notice the details that this crowd have pointed out. I hope a little constructive critique isn't taken personally. Yup on the first part. Most definitely not on the diving board part, but if it does happen, the child will get a talking to and docked 2 weeks pay. And definitely not taken personally. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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