[ol104]

Hello all - a couple weeks ago, we had a decent wind storm that decided to lift up our patio table and deposit it onto the other side of our backyard.

Honestly i was not saddened by this since the wife bought it at a yard sale for $20 probably 7 years ago. Money well spent but definitely time to upgrade.

I am making the new table out of air dried cedar purchased from my local wood supplier (i.e. guy with a portable sawmill and a huge yard to air dry the lumber in).

Basic plan is to go with thick legs (3.5" x 3.5") and then true 1" x 4" stretchers at the top. I would prefer to not have any type of stretchers or bracing at the bottom of table for aethetics and so it is easy to get chairs in and out of...wanting a clean, modern look with no joinery showing.

I believe M&T joints will be the strongest, but i am pretty inexperienced at them and would hate to ruin the lumber on sloppy work $$. Do you guys think titebondIII and bluekote Kreg pockets screws will be sufficient? The wife gave a subtle hint that she wants the table done by our 4th of July cookout...

any suggestions are appreciated...

 

[ol104]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have some pretty decent size leg cutoffs that I will practice my M&T technique. I have also thought about trying to borrow a Domino from someone at my local woodworker club but don't know him that well and not sure I would let a stranger borrow a $900 piece of equipment.

There is actually going to be a decent amount of cross bracing going on between the stretchers. I have attached (hopefully) a picture of what I want the top design to look like. The only way I can determine to get that design is to have a number of cross braces underneath the table to attached the top pieces to.

I am thinking that with the amount of cross bracing, the pocket screws and glue may be okay but I am going to get some M&T mockups practiced before making the final decision...

anyone have thoughts on how to get this table top design while keeping all fasteners underneath??