My wife wants me to build a dining room table that seats 10. I want to use a Shaker style( 4 legs) and build the table from black cherry.
1. What would you recommend for the dimensions?
2. I am planning to use table leafs to attain the final over all length. What would you recommend for an opening mechanism and how many leaves would you recommend?
3. Do you think that four legs will be able to support the table or will I need something in the middle.
4. My wife’s family is Italian and they will probably all be here for dinner! Probably a lot of “What are you looking at?” you know. i.e. must be strong.
Thanks!
Edited 11/12/2007 1:41 pm ET by T.D.
Replies
No response?
Hey T.D.
Your question just got assigned to one of our experts. I apologize for the delay. In the meantime, I want to point you to an article I worked on with Graham Blackburn that goes over a lot of the basic elements of table design, including size and proportions.
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=24141
Sorry again for the delay more detail will be following shortly.
Matt BergerFine Woodworking
P.S. I also noticed your question posted to Gary Rogowski's folder, so you might end up with two opinions on the matter!
Edited 11/12/2007 5:01 pm ET by MBerger
Hi TD,
Sorry - your question slipped by me. I have been rather busy lately and thought my email would notify me of incoming questions. ( apparrently not so!) I should have some time this weekend and will get back to you then.
Darrell
Hi T.D. - again sorry for the slow reply. I have been in the middle of building my new shop - we have been in the panic mode here trying to get done before the lease runs out on the old shop. Below are the answers - --Darrell
1. What would you recommend for the dimensions?
There are some variables with this such as the shape of the table (round or square end), the location of the legs (will they be in the way of a place setting). Do you plan on snug or leisurely seating?
I usually allow a minimum of 24" per person for snug fitting and as much as 30" for leisurely seating. The article Matt suggest would be a good one. I also like to refer to “Human Dimension & Interior Space “ by Julius Panero & Martin Zelnik for these kinds of questions.
2. I am planning to use table leafs to attain the final over all length. What would you
recommend for an opening mechanism and how many leaves would you recommend?
I have had very good luck with making my own opening mechanism. A must read on extension slides is the classic article by Jeremiah de Rham in FWW #65. de Rham discusses several variations in the article but I would suggest his “Block/washer T-system” - it is easy to make and can be adjusted to the point where it operates very smooth.
On the number of leaves – this also depends on several things such as the size of the room and the number of people normally setting at the table.
For instance when the table is closed and without leaves the table should not interfere with normal traffic patterns. With the leaves in and the table is fully extended you can temporarily block the traffic patterns as long as there is still a minimum of 24” clearance from the back of the chairs.
The number of leaves also depends upon the design of the table – more on this can be found in the article in issue #65
3. Do you think that four legs will be able to support the table or will I need something in the middle.
Again I think this depends upon the design. Are the legs out at the ends or are they inboard. How much overlap is there on the individual beams of the extension mechanism? Some of this is discussed in the de Rham article. You can always add support in the middle after you have assembled the table and tested for sag in the middle.
4. My wife's family is Italian and they will probably all be here for dinner! Probably a lot of "What are you looking at?" you know. i.e. must be strong.
You could always give it the Harry Lundstead test. Harry was my former employer and a man of great integrity but also a little quirky. He liked to make sure the new designs were going to hold up to abuse. More than once I showed up for work in the morning to see Harry on top a new prototype desk - jumping up and down and generally abusing it. If the desk held together – Harry walked away with a smile and you knew the desk was to be slated for production. If the desk fell apart, Harry would let loose with some of the “colorful language” he was known for and make the engineers re-work the design.
.
Edited 11/19/2007 6:41 am ET by furnituremaker
Edited 11/19/2007 6:44 am ET by furnituremaker
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