Outdoor Table

I have some treated softwood left over, just enough to make a small table.

The design I was thinking of doing is like this

The table top would be glued together and have bread boards on the ends.

The wood is 170x45 and 95x45.

If I built it this way what is the best way to attach the 50sq legs.

Or would I be better leaving say a 3mm gap either side of the central 95x45 member, leaving it to float on the plywood joint, and fixing the legs as shown with a diagonal piece screwed to the outer skirting.

Hi Paul

I made an outside table very similar to your design several years ago (its legs are 65mm sq rather than 50. Just looks a bit more substantial), and used a metal diagonal brace inset into small grooves routed into the ends of the skirt. The legs have a dowel screw inserted at the top (the sort with a woodscrew thread at one end and a machine thread (M6 or M8) at the other). This allows you to quickly dismantle the table should you want to. If you go this route, it is better to chamfer the first 2 or 3 inches of the top corner of the leg at a right angle to the plate, to allow you to (a) insert the woodscrew part at the correct angle, and (b) to really tighten the leg against the skirt.

I've also got a much larger circular table with wooden braces screwed into the skirt rather than the metal plates, and the legs 2 dowel screws.

Simon

Hi Simon

I may be changing the design now.

May go with just the two legs as shown, secured with dowels and bolt into the skirt, braced to the top.

The skirt will be glued and doweled at the corners with the inner top allowed to float on the plywood joints.

Paul may I ask what progame did you use to draw the table

Hi Derek

The program is AutoCad 14.

A freebie you could try if you didn't already know about it is this one, progeCad 2009:

http://www.progesoft.com/en/smart-2009

Paul

JUst thought I'd show you the table I made to go with the bench

Just need some nice weather now )

Paul