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Need Help With Coffee Table Design

2K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  okwoodshop 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi all:

I'd like to make a (what I hope is a simple) coffee table that looks kind of like this:

I have 2 questions.

Can someone please explain to me how a table like this is structured underneath the top? I imagine the rails have a tenon and mortise in the leg. But I don't understand how there can be 2 tenons that meet in a corner without getting in each other's way. Someone will do the legs for me, so all I have to do is…..the rest. ;o)

2nd question: Is there someone out there fluent in Sketchup who could draw it for me roughly, mainly to understand how to put the bottom together-I'm hopeless in sketchup. I'd be happy to send you a few exotic bits in exchange…...
 
#2 ·
The mortises intersect, Seawitch, and then the ends of the tenons are mitered where they meet. They likely don't quite touch, but that allows maximum glue surface for both joints.

Ok, there's number one. Next?

Kindly,

Lee
 
#4 ·
Thank you Lee Barker and ShaneA. What about the little drawer? Is it as simple as 2 rails supporting the drawer or do I need full support underneath?
 
#7 ·
do you see the size of the leg?

is there a reason the tenon has to meet the perpendicular tenon?

do you think they even used tenons ?

what about biscuits ?………or dominos? ………..or steel corner brackets?

has anybody mentioned the fact that a 4' x 4' top expands up to a 1/4" per foot, across the grain

anybody ever bought piece of Ikea furniture……………..and the studied it ?

I would be less concerned about the mortise and tenon and more concerned about how to keep the top, from twisting the base into a slinky, once its secured.
 
#8 ·
don't be mad, Moron. I figure that any table top of any size has to be attached to the base with hardware that will allow it to expand and contract. I recognize that there are different ways to attach the legs to the rails with a mortise and tenon being one of them…
 
#9 ·
There is an excellent series of tutorials available on youtube for sketchup. on the sketchup screen, there should be a link to watch these tutorials, and they are linked in order at the end of each video. I have been watching them myself, and then just playing with the tools to get the hang of it. it is a fairly overwhelming program, but once you start messing around with it, you start to see how simple designs can be accomplished, even with little knowledge on how to use it.
hope that helps, I would offer to draw it for you, but I am in the dark on exactly what it should look like myself :)
(yes I have seen the underside of tables with drawers in them, but knowing what is there, and adequately designing one yourself are two different things).
 
#10 ·
I would run a mortise and tenon but wouldnt have them meet, say an inch deep. Then run an angled piece from apron to apron, tenon those as well and screw through angled pieces, right through the apron tenons into the legs and screw through the angled piece into the leg as well.

by making a sub assembly for the drawers, you can alleviate any movement from the giant slab.
 
#11 ·
Moron, what do you have in mind for a "sub assembly" for the drawers? I follow the rest of what you suggest, and that's pretty much what I had in mind.

Thanks for all suggestions, everyone.
 
#12 ·
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This isn't a coffee table, but the construction would be basically the same. These lags are tapered and the apron pieces join the legs with M&T joints. I use figure-eights to attach the top to the leg assembly. If you do the drawer in your picture, you'll need to reinforce the apron piece so it won't break if the top flexes.
 

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#13 ·
I'm making a piece with similar issues, seawitch. it's not a coffee table but a hall table with very different proportions and much more delicate in nature, as a result I have no choice but to have the apron tenons meet at the corner in a mitre - the legs are 21cm square! - but your legs look big enough that you could keep your tenons short enough that they don't meet which is definitely preferable. Sawkerf's pictures illustrate it perfectly really. Best of luck with it!
 
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