Hello all,
I’m starting to design a dining room table. I’m wondering about the apron/leg junction. Do they need corner bracing? If I plan on using 3″ thick legs with mortise and tenon and through mortise on one of sides, is that enough strength. The table will be 86L x 44W x 31H.
Corner bracing seems kind of clunky.
Replies
Will the legs be able to be removed for moving?
I'm no expert, but corner braces seem to be a nice place to anchor a removable leg.
Bill
Nope, the legs aren't going to be removable.
For non-removable legs, I'm of the opinion that, even with fairly wide aprons, triangular brace blocks glued against the inside of the joints will reduce the amount of stress that the M&T joints need to withstand in normal use of the table. Such braces don't need to be terribly large. Perhaps half of the remaining exposed inside portion of the leg should be sufficient.
A lot depends on the width of your apron. If you've got, let's say, 4" of apron width, then you shouldn't need anything beyond what your M&T joints will give you. If on the other hand you've got, say only 2 1/2" of apron width, then my instinct tells me that you need to add some kind of additional bracing.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1
Ring,Thanks! I'm planning to go with a 4 to 4.5 inch apron. I'd like to go a little larger, but then arm chairs might not fit under the table easily.
I often use a 4" apron and cut away an inch or so along most of its length, in order to get more legroom but preserve joint strength. It does dictate a certain design element, but I often find it too good a solution to pass up.David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1
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