Hi, yesterday I received a table made of glued ashwood boards for PC case which weighs around 17 kilos and noticed that full-arc rectangular legs are attached along the glueing line, not across it so all what holds middle boards and case on it is just glue. Asked about it hearing it should be fine, just want to make sure. Is is enough for my purpose? Pic related.
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast
-
Our favorite articles and videos
-
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
What's that, like 40 pounds? I'm sure it's fine.
Yes, around that, and tabletop thickness is 40mm.
That should not be a problem, as long as the joint was made properly. Most wood glues can withstand over 3000 psi so your computer is a walk in the park.
Yes. The legs themselves don't look particularly strong or stable, but the top should be just fine.
I am thinking about how can I add some support to them.
A simple apron using the usual metal corner bracket (https://www.amazon.com/Corner-Brace-Table-Leg-1/dp/B003FHS714/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=table+leg+corner+braces&qid=1644027107&sr=8-4) would add a lot of rigidity to the legs. That might be all you need
They are 2 separate metal legs, like square arcs each, so I have no idea how it should work, maybe some attachable support would work?
Without knowing more about the construction, it is hard to make good suggestions without guessing or making assumptions. If the racking is of concern to you, I suggest you take some pictures of the underside and start a new thread with a good description of the construction. I'm sure you will get lots of advice on how to make it stronger.
With it wedged between 2 other pcs of furniture it's not going anywhere. Gravity is working for you here. Enjoy the new table.
Was going to place it this way from start, though legs are racking a bit from end to end if you move it that way, so other furniture does help.
When you say "the legs are racking a bit from end to end" do you mean they are becoming rhomboid in shape compared rectangular? If that is the case it is the legs that need to be reenforced and held square somehow. How is the question, and that really depends upon your prowess working with wood and/or metal and the tools you have available. The reenforcement could be as simple as the preformed angle brackets purchased at your local hardware store or home center screwed to the inside of the 4 corners of each leg. Another solution would be wood or metal triangles screwed to the corners on the faces of the legs either inside or out your choice. Maybe the simplest option if you are limited in tools would be to have your home center cut you 2 rectangular panels of tempered hardboard the exact size of the rectangle made by the legs and just screw this to the face of the leg frame. If you are getting some side to side sway a third panel could be cut and screwed to the legs across the back to stiffen the structure that way. I think you could leave the front open and still benefit greatly from the back panel.
If you have some degree of proficiency and a table saw you could cut 4 strips of wood the width of the metal tubing and the length of the diagonals inside the leg frames and half-lapped in the center to form a cross brace in the center of the legs then wedged, epoxied, or screwed into place in the 4 corners. Made from Ash and finished to match the top this would provide a very pleasing yet very strong support to the legs.
The face to face glued wood joint (which defines how your table was glued up) is one of the strongest. Generally, the wood itself will fail before the glue joint. Enjoy your new table.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled