Buffalo Bilious

I can't believe you actually stress-tested it! You wouldn't be an engineer, wouldya?

That said, may I respectfully suggest that you may be "over-thinking" the issue.

First of all, in order to get a true load factor, it'd be better to test the weight-bearing on the fully completed frame and tabletop (the sum is greater than the parts, right?)

Second, the point was already made... any load will be borne across the horizontal surface of the top of the leg, traveling down to the floor at whatever angle you mount the legs... the topside terminal end of the leg will be generally unstressed and tied into the tabletop and infrastructure. Glue and screw is all I'd do. Maybe dowels or biscuits if I felt like giving myself a little challenge...

Lastly, unless you regularly entertain women who enjoy jumping up on the table to dance, I think your idea is sound as it is. However, if you actually have woman who come over to dance on your tables, let me know and I'll stop by to help with that design.... field tests are mandatory....

Great stuff, keep goin'!

Clutchcargo

You wouldn't want a broken table leg to end the fun would you?

Buffalo Bilious

From my experience, a broken table only leads to more fun! Trust me on this....

"ClutchCargo"? We have a bar in town by that name... you in the Detroit area?

bigredc

I'm not an engineer. I always wanted to be one. I do tend to over engineer things. I'm a construction electrician. I build electric services, pipe racks and lot's of stuff like that. We used to joke that the next ice age would come and go and my stuff would still be standing. If I had my way the legs would be 4X4s with metal bracing. That wouldn't look to good. All that said, I'm just having fun. Instead of the girl's, I was thinking of big fat drunk guy falling on the table. I like the way you think better. My lady friend and her sister were putting up wall paper in her bathroom. This woman with a masters degree, stood on the toilet tank, and was surprised when it broke. You never know what people will do. I want the table to able to support a person. I think it will. Or if it has a bunch of stuff on it and someone drags it across the carpet. There I go over thinking it again.

bigredc

This is a video of joint torture test. Pretty neat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhLfb7m9Fug

bigredc

All the testing and planning and I break the leg while I was gluing then up. The clamp kept pulling down on the joint. I pulled up to straiten it out. I did a couple, no problem. I was struggling keeping the wood blocks between the clamp and the leg. I guess the glue set up. I pulled it snapped. I sure the neighbors heard me cursing.

bigredc

I was so mad I just glued it back together. I didn't think to wait and do a hidden dowel. I was thinking I would just do all of them with whatever I come up with. I have a few ideas. You can barely see the crack.

vicwebb

I have a coffeee table that I bought some 35 years ago which is identical in design to that shown in your photo. It has a glass top and has withstood familiy life so it is a durable design. A joint parted a year or so back, due to central heating, revealing that two 3/8" dowels were proving the joint. Simple and strong!

bigredc

This project continues here. help with first real project

drcollins804

When you have the table finished the weight is distributed across all 4 legs and the place it fractured will also be supported by the strength of the top. I think your only real worry is a side stress from something falling against the table. This is the only way that the joints are isolated from the strength of the complete structure. SORRY about that I hadn't followed all of the thread yet Table is looking pretty good.

Joe Lyddon

The Woodwhisperer is making an End Table... (3 episodes, so far)
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/

After watching episode #3, I thought he was doing much of what you are doing... maybe it will help you...

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bigredc

I've watched a few. I keep forgetting to watch them. I'm just about done. I'm putting the tung oil on.

Knot Home

I would mortise both sides and use a loose tenon instead. This way all of the grain runs the right way for maxiumum strenght, and the joint still looks nice.

Roy

Joe Lyddon

Bigred,

Looks really NICE!

I think you'll be OK... as mentioned, the weight will be distributed to the legs also... not all in the spot you were testing.

Waiting to see the finished piece... Looks great, so far!

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bigredc

You should check the dates on the post's. That table has been built for a month. I used to do that all the time. Now I try to remember to look at the date.

Knot Home

I should change my handle to "Knot All There". I completely missed the fact that there was a page two when I posted. It's amazing I still have all my fingers.

BlockHead

Any place where you have wood that thin with the grain horizontal on a piece that thin, it will be subject to breaking. The strongest way to do it would be to do a mitered joint at the corner, doweled or biscuited for extra strength.

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~ BlockHead ~
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I went and bought myself a bunch of woodworking machines. What now?

http://www.AWorkOfWood.com

dpmcreations

It seems as if I missed all the good postings... But what the heck.. Nice job on the table.. Congrats and keep us posted on how the table holds up with the women!!!!!! ROFLMAO...................

__________________
Duane

smitty1967

methinks everything will be fine, no matter what method of joinery you practice, red....that is, until the War Department decides she's going to slide that coffee table across the carpet some weekday afternoon while you're out building cable trays....one lateral move of that original joint across the thick shag rug, and ---voila! The neighbors will hear her cursing this time!

regards,
smitty

bigredc

Here is the table. I would recomend a different design if I was doing it again. The joint is fine, it's the wood between the joint and the leg that it weak. The wood wisperer did one very simalar, but much stronger.