Having issue with metal legs of the table
Hello, 4 months ago I placed an order for table for my PC case to woodworking master, received it and was using it only for last 2 months, and now I noticed some particles are falling from the opened part of the leg. Here are some photos so you can observe the situation ( https://imgur.com/a/fbxgGwy ).
The whole story is the table cupped a little due to low temperatures at some time, and also a leg was attached not in the perfect way (I guess because of the way legs joints were made), it leans a bit to side so you can see on the photo how tabletop is placed on one of the legs. I also placed a ruler straight to the floor next to the leg so it’s easy to see the difference. You can also see a gap there between tabletop and leg surface. When I told the woodworker about it, he told it’s not really an issue since the weight of PC I placed on it was not more than 20 kilos so for tables like this it’s not a problem.
The issue is only with one leg, and week ago or some more I noticed these black particles falling down from opened section of this particular leg, to be specific, only from the front side of it. I placed a small paper sheet under it and left it for night so it is easy visible how much of particles fell down.
As I checked, legs are made of 4 pipes welded together and welding points are situated at the left and right sides at the bottom, and same sides plus top at the upper part. You can also see all that on photo.
So what can cause it? I didn’t notice any damage on the legs or table. I see it’s not really wood question but I hope someone working with furniture can advise something.
Replies
Do I correctly understand that this was custom made by a local shop? Or, did you order it from a commercial dealer (factory made)?
It looks like either the top or the metal base or both are out of square. Also, if the wood top has cupped, it is likely affecting the alignment of the legs. If the top is unfinished, this issue will become more severe and probably continue. If you are in a climate with big swings in temperature and humidity, you should think about having the top made of a more stable material, like plywood with a veneer cover.
The metal base could also be out of square. This would be the result of improper welding. Either the local maker or the commercial dealer should stand behind their product. Take it up with them again. The weight of your PC has nothing to do with it.
It is hard to say what the particles are. Could be paint flaking off of the metal or welding slag from the metal joints or grindings falling from inside the tubing.
It was made by private woodworker from solid ashwood boards, I guess he just bought the legs somewhere himself.
Contacted him about it and he says he has no idea what may be the cause, too, and I probably should not be worried about it since it's metal.
I posted here with the table cupping question about it and it looks finished, could happen due to really low temperature in the apartment, since our window was knocked off by russian rocket and it could get colder than usual. Cupping itself is not that serious and it mostly affected the side with a 'healthy' leg. So I guess the joint and metal frame are out of square which lead to that angle it is standing now.
But is it possible that welding point or metal can break apart? Or the particles are falling just because it's new leg and it was not cleaned off from inside?
Were the particles falling out before or after the Russian rocket? Rockets are notoriously hard on furniture!
I doubt it could affect it, the explosion epicenter was pretty far and window was the only thing which got damaged because it was pretty old
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