Joinery

Some ideas and methods to attach your table legs to the table’s top utilizing the table’s apron…
I find this method most attractive and the strongest…

LEG APRON 1

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more…
add a gusset and to increase the strength and wracking control…

LEG APRON 3

LEG APRON 2

Since wood moves allowances for it must be made for it especially when fastening the table’s top to the apron assembly…

Four Ways To Fasten Tabletops.pdf (343.1 KB)
TabletopsFlat.pdf (893.3 KB)

Note…

Steel gussets/corner brackets for the leg attachment to win win when it comes to stability and strength… There are a slew of variation of these in strength and style…

LEG GUSSET 1

LEG GUSSET 2

Wooden gussets/corner brackets for the leg attachment…
Size is completely under your control…

WOODEN BRACKETS

Suggestion…
instead of a lag or a screw to fasten the bracket to the leg use a hanger bolt w/ a lock or torsion washer and nut… it’s the proven way to go and doesn’t strip out easily as the lags and screws do…

HANGER BOLT

Layout, measuring and marking…
for successful well fitting joinery these functions are vital…

HowToMeasureAndMark.PDF (2.1 MB)

the old standby, aka the pencil, that we all know so well…
I believe these mechanical pencils to be the best alternate to a #2 pencil you can get and they are near bullet proof… the leads are a polymer blend and very strong which makes them resistant to breaking… there are four basic lead diameters from ultra fine to heavy duty… (0,3, .5, .7 & .9MM)… no need to stop and sharpen all the tine either…
Note…
the leads for them can be had in a host of colors…

PENTEL MECHANICALS

Note…
if you err when marking w/ a pencil you have the opportunity to change the marks/lines… not so much w/ ink or a felt tip…
for pencils, these three erasers will easily cover all your needs…I found them, the triangles, pencils and much more at art/drafting stores…

ERASER
E2
E1

for extreme fine line marking there are marking knives tailored to the mission… not only do you get a fine line, the wood fibers are cut where you mark facilitating less splintering when you do your cutting…

Intro to Marking Knives P1.pdf (592.6 KB)

Marking gauges are a strong asset… from this simple shop made center marking gauge… do yourself a favor and put a mechanical in it instead of a #2

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to the more dedicated to purpose gauges…
the gauges w/ marking/cutting wheels not only mark they also cut the wood fibers
these gauges you can make yourself… Or purchase,

Cutting gauge.pdf (1.3 MB)
Mortise gauge plan - wedge version.pdf (1.1 MB)
Mortise gauge plan - Locking screw version.pdf (1.5 MB)
Marking gauge.pdf (752.8 KB)
poly-gauge.pdf (86.7 KB)

Note…
the wheeled gauges will/do need occasional sharpening…

Marking Gauge Wheel Sharpening.pdf (207.9 KB)

found this miter saw accessory that allows crown molding to be nested against fence for simple miter cuts with no beveling required… this means you can cut your crown or valence moldings in real time…

Add Hidden Splines to Box Miters