Steps
Step 1
I have never built a freestanding table from scratch. I have made a dining table re-using a metal frame for the legs once before tho.
I was super worried about the height ratio of it being high enough to be comfortable and easy enough to sit with your legs underneath it. The making bench steats were also high on the stress list of getting them right and being solid enough to sit at.
The boards I had picked up from being thrown out at work had been used for concreting and who knows what else. It made me reluctant to plane them as I figured there would be dirt/concrete/rock embedded in the timber and that would chew the planners blade like crazy. It felt smooth to touch so decided to oil it instead.
Working out how to put the table together with what I had.
The timber planks had a toungue and groove to them
Even tho they have a bit of a twist some went together easy enough, others had a bit of a gap.
Tapping the timber boards together with the mallet really helped.
Working out the supports across the underside of the table. I decided to use coach bolts down through the top and through the long side of the 50*100mm timber
Having never made legs for a table before I was using test pieces to get the angles right verse the height.
The height I was thinking of was 790mm from floor to top of the table. It ended up being 790mm 🙂
This made me think of ratios and how they work.
Step 2
I had worked out the angle to cut (45degs) and in my head I had it worked out how to cut both ends of the legs...
was pretty happy with myself....
I was surpprised at how it worked out. So I cut the other end of the legs and...
Messed up lol I had it "figured" in my head but somehow cut the legs the wrong way. It was an easy fix as these were only the "test" pieces.
My measuring stick to make sure all the legs were at the same height
Legs worked out! Now to cut the true legs.
The spot where the table will end up.
This is the base plate, I decided to give each end an angled cut to stop knees from banging against them so easily.
And of course the angled cut comes back to haunt me... Trying to clamp on the end of the timber plus drill down was problematic after I cut that tiny bit... Luckily I had this old school clamp that was low profile. It worked a treat.
The depth that the G clamp can go in is limited to the distance between the orange plastic foot and the silver metal edge of the bracket.
Step 3
First half done! This table is going to be heavy!
Just to show the spacing block at the cross point.
The second set of legs, 450mm in from the edge.
Using my test pieces as templates. It made life a lot easier
Both done! I was cheering.
750mm to the underside of the table, 790mm to the top 😀
Shifting it was an interesting exercise.... I dont think it will grow legs too easily 🙂 Overall weight... really dont know but three adults to lift and move it, 4 to lift it onto a trailer.
Once I placed it on the ground it really showed up how non level the grass was. It had piles of soil spread over the area multiple times and just ended up uneven even though I would have sworn I had made it level lol.
I also did not want to rest the timber feet direct on the ground (yes I do intend to oil the timber) so placed some pavers first.
Leveling the pavers out tho I do want to level the whole area soonish...
Step 4
There is something nice about late afternoon sunlight to work in.
Pavers down to protect the feet.
The bench seats being worked out. 450mm in from the first edge of the foot.
Working out the height that feels right with sitting/knees/feet I used the saw horses as test subjects.
They are perfect, so 500mm height from floor to top of seat.
I may put a stay piece of timber between both legs to help stop any future sway from side to side. Not sure if it would work? Any ideas?
Back to working out angles and height. I had over complicated it in my head by a long shot. Once I sat down and just cut the first angle,the rest worked out easily.
Making up the bases of the feet.
The legs all prepped for the next day.
Feeling pretty happy and believe me trying to carry it that way up is next to impossible lol
All done! Ground needs to be leveled and table/legs/benches need to be oiled someday but thats all thats left.
Best bit is it blends nicely, you can walk past and the greyness of the table dosnt catch the eyes. If I had planned or sanded then the red would have been bright. Now for something cold and watch the sun go down over the escarment!
