Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 20, 2004 11:46pm | #1

   To be honest, looking at the photo, I doubt if you could add enough weight to make the table tip proof. 

   The densest material you could use is lead.  Rather than trying to cut and fit solid lead inserts you can bore holes, fill them with lead shot and then pour in a thin epoxy to bond everything together.  The final density isn't as high as solid lead, but it is a far faster way to add weight.  You can get lead shot at a gun shop.

   Could the base be bolted to the floor?

   John W.

2. 
   Marv | Oct 20, 2004 11:59pm | #2

   This table will never be stable.  The legs need to be wider.  They must extend beyond the centers of gravity, especially when there are heavy objects on the edges.

   You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

3. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Oct 21, 2004 12:14am | #3

   Yeah, that base looks skimpy to me too.   If you want to experiment with adding weight, there's a fairly easy approach.   You're likely thinking of adding weight near the middle of the table.  It turns out that in terms of the amount of force necessary to start to tip the table, it doesn't matter how high your added weight sits.   That is, you could put it down near the floor, or you can put it on top of the table top.   The easy experiment is to pile any weight you have in the middle of the table -- rocks, tools, old engine blocks, whatever.   Add weight until the table feels stable when you lean on the edge.   Weigh the pile of added stuff.  That's how much lead or whatever you need to add -- presumably out of sight!

   I found lead by looking in the Yellow Pages for "metals".  I've bought it in ingot form for about $2/pound.   My guess is that you'll find you need so much lead that it will be less expensive to build longer arms on the base.

4. 
   hammer1 | Oct 21, 2004 02:29am | #4

   The top is too big for the base. Make another pedestal and use two. In some cases you can build a table top support that is similar to your legs but not with this size.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

5. 
   pauldowns | Oct 21, 2004 04:15am | #5

   You aren't far off the mark. I have a 54 x 34 table with a similar pedestal, long leg is 32" (running down the length) and short leg is 28" and it is fine, without weights. If I understand correctly, both of your legs are 28". I bet it will work well. One of the odd features of pedestal tables is that the ones that are sized correctly, to give you sufficient stability AND legroom, often look as though they will tip over. I have made many, many pedestal tables and never had one tip over. Here are a few:

   http://www.shop.pauldowns.com/page1.html

   Good Luck!

   Paul

1. 
   Marv | Oct 21, 2004 04:50pm | #7

    I have made many, many pedestal tables

   Beaauutttiffuuul Paul!You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

2. 
   BarryR | Oct 22, 2004 11:04pm | #8

   I dunno, Paul.  Every one of those tables look pretty stable to me.  And very nicely done, too.

3. 
   cmg | Oct 23, 2004 01:10am | #9

   Hey Paul,

   I rebuilt the base to extend the legs. I have attached a photo. The long leg is now 38" and the short leg is 32" (previously they were both 28", the top is 53" x 36"). Stability has been improved, but it is still not as stable as I would like.

   On your rectangular pedestal tables with a single column base are you able to lean on the corners and lift up the other side? If I put enough of my weight on it I can lift mine. I did set a 20lb dumbbell at the farthest end of the corner and it did not tip, but like I said if I really lean into it it will tip. Given that it will be used in a u-shaped breakfast nook with kids climbing around it, it may still be too unstable.

   At this point I think I will leave it in the customer's hands. If they feel it is too unstable I will rebuild it for them. I may switch to a trestle base for stability. the only other thing I can think of is making the short leg 34-36" and the long leg around 48"

   Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.

   Thanks,

   Chris

   P.S. your work is beautiful

    

   
6. 
   jackiechan | Oct 21, 2004 04:33am | #6

   CMG,

   With the dimensions of the pedestal, adding weights to it will not prevent it from tipping.  If you were to add lead (or similar) to the structure, you'd end up with a keel effect (as in a boat).  It could still tip, even though it would be exceptionally bottom heavy. 

   The feet of the current pedestal must be extended.  An easy, and visually appealing modification would be to cut the end of each foot into a square tenon, and then add an additional foot with a square socket cut out of it.  To determine the exact amount of extra length that you will need, experiment by clamping some wood stock to the side of each foot, extending it past the end until you reach the best balance.

   A second option would be to build a second twin pedestal, shift the current one over, and then modify the feet pointing down the length of the table, and replace them with one continuous foot running through both bases. 

   If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

7. 
   biosf1 | Oct 24, 2004 07:27am | #10

   I'm a furniture builder and your column looks a little skimpy for the size of the table top and do the feet look like they could of been made a lot longer  to balance the size of the table.I've been in restaurants that have tables with a metal base and just lean on the edge of the table to get up and it will tip. So weighting the legs I don't think is the answer to your problem.

   This is just my opinion.