I’m having a little trouble trying to figure out the best way to re-enforce a small table. The legs are round, and I’d like to cross brace the lower portion of the legs with a pair of round stretchers. The stretchers will cross each other in the middle and I’d like to lock them together in a half lap style joint.
Easy enough to do with square stock, but how do I do this with round strechers?
Appearance is not critical. It’s a kids table, and is quite small. I need the stretchers in order to make it stronger and wanted to cross the stretchers so that a small chair could fit under and still allow some foot space unencumbered by the stretchers.
Sorry, I’m not great with CAD so I don’t have a drawing to post. Hopefully my description of the situation is clear enough. Thanks for any advice.
Edited 8/15/2003 4:29:54 PM ET by mercury
Replies
Cut the joint on square stock, glue up the cross, and route it afterward with a round over bit . When you get it sanded up it will look like two dowels crossing.
It actually looks pretty good!
Tai
Or, perhaps even better HITAI, make sure the round stretchers match a sawtooth (forstner) type bit in diameter, and rig up a holder for the drill press, and bore through one of the stretchers accurately in the middle, and through the middle, if you get my drift.
Bore a centred hole in either end of the two parts produced. Bore a matching hole through the other stretcher exactly through the centre point of the diameter. Insert a long dowel that protrudes either side of the one continuous stretcher, and press the two halves of the cross stretcher into place so that the curved (scribed) ends correspond to the circumference of the other stretcher. Slainte.Website
Ah ha, the light bulb just went on! Thank you Sgian.
I tried something similar with my drill press and a forstner bit, except I rigged up a holder to drill half a hole on each stretcher. Naturally that didn't work, and I've been scratching my head since trying to figure out how to do it properly.
I appreciate the tip, thanks.
Do it like a chair rung
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