So I’m making a small side table from some scrap I had lying around. Some zebrawood left over from the box and some walnut from the console table
I started building before these renderings but figured the blog would flow better if I started with these.
So this is the plan
I have the top made, and the legs. But I’m having a hard time adding the small rail on the short side, it’s only about 5/16” wide so I’m not exactly sure how to join it to the legs. Trying to drill a couple of holes into it and then epoxying some brass rod into it but drilling those holes accurately is proving to be quite challenging (drill press a bit too small so trying to do it by hand)
Here are the pieces I’ve made so far
It’s a little hard to tell but the legs are somewhat teardrop shaped. Anyway comments most appreciated, especially on how to join those skinny rails.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
6 comments so far
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 859 days
posted 801 days ago
Sounds like it will have to be teeny-tiny dowells or itsy-bitsy tenons. 5/16 is pretty small.
-- Thos. Angle
Damian Penney
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1030 posts in 888 days
posted 801 days ago
Yes, if I have to I can shave a bit off the skinny end of the teardrop shape to widen it a bit, perhaps up to 1/2” but I quite like the profile as it is so that will be a last resort. Is using metal as the dowel a good idea or should I stick with wood? I was thinking of using threaded rod to give the epoxy something to grab onto.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
gbvinc
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540 posts in 843 days
posted 801 days ago
5/16 is pretty small. Maybe you could just mortise them into the leg without reducing the end with a tenon, or at least not reducing it much with a tiny tenon. Then run decorative pegs in through the leg to reinforce. Would need to be a really clean mortise.
Just a thought prior to a cup of coffee in the morning, so no guarentee it is a good one!
gbvinc
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540 posts in 843 days
posted 801 days ago
Metal should work just fine. With threaded rod and epoxy, it should pull together nicely. Pretty much comes down to which look you are going for in terms of metal versus wood pegs.
Bob Babcock
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1808 posts in 983 days
posted 801 days ago
Nice looking table.
I like the threaded rod and epoxy indea GB.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Karson
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25803 posts in 1297 days
posted 778 days ago
Damian. A neat looking table. I’d think that threaded rods would give a better hold than slick metal rods.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †