Hello, woodworkers! I just got a condo, and my wonderful rustic table from Mexico, which I got across the border only by enormous effort and emotional cost (it is assumed, apparently, that everyone who crosses the border is a terrorist and a drug smuggler and apparently no one in recent history thought they could just come across innocently with all their worldly possessions in a pickup truck; I eventually prevailed but only with the help of two cheerfully evangelical Christians inhabitants of Nuevo Laredo and Christ's reputation as a crazy man). Besides, it matches three other pieces I got from a wonderful little workshop in Guadalajara that really bring my small digs together (you can tell they mean a lot to me)--but the dining table is just too big. So I want to copy it in a smaller version. The farmhouse plans are close enough except for the legs, which make the rustic look. They are solid four and a half inches square, 4.5 X 4.5. For one thing, that does not even seem to match US wood sizes. So would anyone be able to give me the steps on how to use this forum and site resources to make a table with legs that size, or the closest US equivalent at least, and 36L X 24W X 30 height? I want the bread box piece (Oh I hope that's what it was called!) on both ends as in the farmhouse table, and the plank top, and no pieces of wood stretching underneath from leg to leg either long wise or short wise--they have a name but I forget what it is.
Would I go to the Sketch it place first? Is it hard to look for The Plan among the plans? The numbers start to swim before one's eyes, at least at first, and I dread it a little!
Other than finishing an unfinished bookcase or two, I have never done any woodwork, but I can knit, sew, cook, and wire a plug, and plumb a little, too (e.g. one of those simple add-on bidets). So I have confidence, not so much in myself, as in the kindness of others to help me along the way.
I thought I would get the wood pieces all pre-cut, it costs a little but then I'd not need a circular saw maybe, or get sawdust all over the kitchen. : )
Ravennso
Sun, 10/20/2013 - 22:01
Your table
Hi Jan,
If you're going to get someone to cut down the lumber for you, have you tried starting with a 6 x 6 for the 4.5 x 4.5 legs? A 6 x 6 is actually around 5.5 x 5.5 inches, so if you shave 1 inch off two sides, (or a half inch off all sides, if it's rough on the outside and you need it smoothed out) that should give you the correct dimensions. That can be done with a table saw at the lumber yard, or by you or a friend. Once you have your 4.5" by 4.5" lumber cut down to the proper dimensions, you can cut it to 30" lengths. If you get a 10' 6x6, you could possibly get all four legs from one piece, if it's really straight.
Take the farmhouse table plan you want to use as your template. Since you're going 24" x 36", you'll have to just cut the plan down. Try using graph paper so you know where to make the cuts so your table ends up being 24" x 36 instead of full size.
I think what you're talking about are the breadboard ends :) You can follow the plan almost exactly, just attach the 4.5" x 4.5" legs instead of the narrower legs the farmhouse table uses. You'll have to cut the tabletop frame boards a little shorter to accommodate the width of your legs. Unfortunately, the legs probably need the stability of the stretchers between them to keep the frame from warping when you move the table around.
BUT, try making the legs and stretchers like the plan says and then flipping that over before you put the top on. You'll essentially be attaching the top to what would normally be the bottom of the legs, and the legs will be "upside down" from the plan. The stretchers will only be a few inches under the table top, giving your legs the "free standing' look you wanted but keeping some of the stability. Give yourself enough room between the stretchers and the ends of your legs to attach the top.
Hope that helps! If you can knit, you can build this table. Knitting is harder by FAR. :)
Jan Baker Chicago
Mon, 10/21/2013 - 04:45
Wow, Thanks so Much
I didn't think I was going to get a reply to my long narrative! And rightly so! It's not urgent, is why I didn't repost something shorter. I'd do better to wait a couple more weeks until a kitchen wall is modified and then I'll have both more room to work and more idea of the space. I will do as you said, except rather than modifying the farmhouse plans, I'll just modify the plan of the existing too-large kitchen table I already have. Since I have to modify! I was much enamored of the wonderful drawings showing the work in 3-D and all that, every little step and screw, but I can cope, and I can still study the on-site plans for technique. I believe you're right about the relative difficulty of all these things. Why don't they make knitting a requisite for president? Thanks again, it was very kind of you.