How to build a dining table using SpecRite panel?

alen

Hello,

Looking at building a dinning table using SpecRite 2400 x 900 x 33mm Brown Acacia Multi-Use Timber Panel and for the legs using Rapid 700 x 732 x 50mm Black Steel Tube Antigua Table Leg

Wanted to see if anyone has tried it and how stable the table is on those legs and at what dimensions were they installed.

Image is of a mock up in the store

MitchellMc

Hi @alen,

That is quite a large tabletop, and the legs you’ve selected are relatively lightweight for a dining table of that size. The table would likely be reasonably stable for light use, but because the legs are fixed directly into the underside of the panel with short screws that must be less than the 33mm thickness of the top, it won’t be the most robust connection.

Looking at the mock-up, I’d also suggest the legs are set too far apart. With a 2400mm span, having the legs close to the ends could allow the centre section of the tabletop to sag over time. I’d be inclined to bring the legs further in from each end, perhaps around 500mm, to reduce the unsupported span. You may also need to add bracing timbers underneath the tabletop between the legs to help stiffen the panel.

This type of setup would probably be fine for an office desk or light-use work table, but for a dining table it may be a bit lightweight. Dining tables are typically built with a tabletop and a frame or apron underneath, which adds a lot of rigidity. The legs are then attached to that frame, rather than only being screwed directly into the tabletop, making the whole structure much stronger and better suited to regular dining table use.

Adding an additional middle leg to the current design would certainly help shore things up.

You might also find this similar discussion helpful, where @Medhat built a dining table with a 2400 x 900 x 33mm SpecRite panel and steel tube legs and later discussed some wobble in the finished table : How to build a timber dining table with steel tube legs?

There’s also some useful advice about bracing in this related discussion: How to build a dining table using Specrite panels?

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell