help: fitting for fixing table top

[email protected] (james) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> hi
>
> i got a 'farmhouse' style pine table from a charity shop, but the
> tabletop is not fixed to the legs/frame
>
> four pieces of timber (about 4 1/2 inches deep by 3/4" thick) connect
> the legs to form a rectangular frame on which the table top sits. A
> slot has been routed all the way round on the inside face of these
> timbers, about 5/8" (15mm?) down from the top edge, the slot is
> square-edged, about 3/10" (8mm?) wide and the same deep.
>
> i figure this slot must have been put there for a reason - ie for some
> (metal?) fitting that would fix the table top in place.
>
> do you know if there is a suitable fitting for this purpose, and if
> so, what it's called & where i could get some (i'm in the UK)
>
> thanks for your help

Something like this?
http://store.yahoo.com/squaredrive/hardware-furniture-hardware-table-top-fasteners-tt-0104.html

-george


> james

"james" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: hi
:
: i got a 'farmhouse' style pine table from a charity shop, but the
: tabletop is not fixed to the legs/frame
:
: four pieces of timber (about 4 1/2 inches deep by 3/4" thick) connect
: the legs to form a rectangular frame on which the table top sits. A
: slot has been routed all the way round on the inside face of these
: timbers, about 5/8" (15mm?) down from the top edge, the slot is
: square-edged, about 3/10" (8mm?) wide and the same deep.
:
: i figure this slot must have been put there for a reason - ie for some
: (metal?) fitting that would fix the table top in place.
:
: do you know if there is a suitable fitting for this purpose, and if
: so, what it's called & where i could get some (i'm in the UK)
:
: thanks for your help
: james

This is probably what you are looking for. This is a US company but you should be able to get them
in the UK from one of your local establishments.
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/showdetl.cfm?offerings_id=784&objectgroup_id=466&catid=82&DID=6

The slot is for either a wooden or metal retainer clip. You should put
a wooden clip (shaped like the one shown below) every few feet on all
sides. Or, if you're lucky you can find a metal one that has the
correct offset. It you can get a metal one that is less than 5/8"
offset, you can put washers between it and the table top to get the
correct alignment. For the wooden one, the tounge sticks into the slot
and screw goes through the thick part into the bottom of the table
top. This allows the table to expanp and contract without breaking
it's connection to the apron. Make sure the tounge has some
possibility in and out movement (ie, don't bottom it in the slot) and
make sure the grain runs perpendicular to the edge of the tbale so the
tounge won't easily split off.

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BW

[email protected] (james) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> hi
>
> i got a 'farmhouse' style pine table from a charity shop, but the
> tabletop is not fixed to the legs/frame
>
> four pieces of timber (about 4 1/2 inches deep by 3/4" thick) connect
> the legs to form a rectangular frame on which the table top sits. A
> slot has been routed all the way round on the inside face of these
> timbers, about 5/8" (15mm?) down from the top edge, the slot is
> square-edged, about 3/10" (8mm?) wide and the same deep.
>
> i figure this slot must have been put there for a reason - ie for some
> (metal?) fitting that would fix the table top in place.
>
> do you know if there is a suitable fitting for this purpose, and if
> so, what it's called & where i could get some (i'm in the UK)
>
> thanks for your help
> james

It is meant for just that, attachment pieces. An easy way of making them is
to cut small blocks with a height equal to the distance between the bottom
of the table top and the bottom of the slot. I will assume 15/16" (based on
your dimensions 5/8 & 3/10). Make the blocks 1" (min) wide, 15/16" thick
and 1-1/2" long. Cut one side (the 1" wide side) back to make a rabbit.
The depth of the rabbit should be 7/16". Drill a hole through the block.
Now just center the table top on the legs (turn table upside down, easier)
and screw the blocks into the bottom of the table with the rabbit slid into
the slot. Allow approximately 1/8" gap between the end of the rabbit and
the bottom of the slot to allow for table top expansion. Place a block near
each corner on all sides (8 blocks total) and then add at least one in the
middle of each side.

Hope this helps. Fine Woodworking magazine just had an article in one of
the recent issues (around #160) on multiple table top attachment methods;
this was one of them.

Ciao for now,

Maico




"james" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> hi
>
> i got a 'farmhouse' style pine table from a charity shop, but the
> tabletop is not fixed to the legs/frame
>
> four pieces of timber (about 4 1/2 inches deep by 3/4" thick) connect
> the legs to form a rectangular frame on which the table top sits. A
> slot has been routed all the way round on the inside face of these
> timbers, about 5/8" (15mm?) down from the top edge, the slot is
> square-edged, about 3/10" (8mm?) wide and the same deep.
>
> i figure this slot must have been put there for a reason - ie for some
> (metal?) fitting that would fix the table top in place.
>
> do you know if there is a suitable fitting for this purpose, and if
> so, what it's called & where i could get some (i'm in the UK)
>
> thanks for your help
> james