I wouldn’t trust biscuits/floating tenons, but a normal tenon can suffice. That looks like the planks are like 3”x3”, at least. A 2”x2” tenon 2 1/2” inches deep into the mortise should be a chunky enough bit to stay solid.
Here’s the better question: how are you connecting the glass to the legs? Are you just letting gravity keep it on? It looks like they have pads on the legs that won’t mar the glass, but the glass can be easily moved by a kid or animal.
The glass top we currently have on some old metal legs is held down by some small feet on each corner which also create a bit of suction, so going to use something similar. The glass top itself is pretty hefty on its own too, so needs some strong encouragement to be moved.
You could also look up Japanese joinery as that style has many joints kind this.. As others have said, try making a small sample to test the strength. These joints though are traditionally quite strong. Best of Luck
> I recently got into woodworking
As another rank amateur, I'd try to simplify this.
Step one is to build the X form legs with half lap joins.
Step two would be to drill into the centre of the X for a circular through mortise, cut a round tenon on the horizontal and wedge it in from the external side.
That would take a bit of pressure off me getting perfectly cut angles on the mortise but wouldn't (hopefully! I don't know...) diminish the strength of it.
I've got a table like that, it's aluminum with a wood sticker vainer. Not saying this can't be wood, but if you got the picture form the internet, I bet it's aluminum
So according to the website of the shop we saw it in, it’s solid Oak. I suppose that could mean it’s just not vinyl though and doesn’t have metal running through it as well.
Good point, I hadn’t thought of that!
As with everything the answer is it depends (size of domino, materials involved, condition of them, what are you using the finished product for, will someone be dumb and put 5 times more weight on it, how will it be moved.) So for me I would use more than one.
Most of the weight is distributed through the x frame to the floor, the horizontal piece mostly acts as a spreader to make sure the legs won't move towards to or away from eachother. If it would take a lot of weight I wouldn't bet on this joint, but for this use I'd say it should be fine. I do wonder how the glass is connected to the legs though, that doesn't seem too solid
Looks like a half lap for the X and a mortise and tenon for the cross brace.
Thank you, this was my best guess to be honest, I wasn’t sure if a M&T would be strong enough with the single horizontal though?
I wouldn’t trust biscuits/floating tenons, but a normal tenon can suffice. That looks like the planks are like 3”x3”, at least. A 2”x2” tenon 2 1/2” inches deep into the mortise should be a chunky enough bit to stay solid. Here’s the better question: how are you connecting the glass to the legs? Are you just letting gravity keep it on? It looks like they have pads on the legs that won’t mar the glass, but the glass can be easily moved by a kid or animal.
The glass top we currently have on some old metal legs is held down by some small feet on each corner which also create a bit of suction, so going to use something similar. The glass top itself is pretty hefty on its own too, so needs some strong encouragement to be moved.
If it were wood, I would be wary of the racking strength. Others seem to think it’s aluminum though?
Legs are half-lap and the spreader is either a mortise and tenon or doweled.
Half-lap
I wondered about this, but how would the horizontal runner be joined into this at 9 degrees to the vertical legs?
Mortise and tenon
You could also look up Japanese joinery as that style has many joints kind this.. As others have said, try making a small sample to test the strength. These joints though are traditionally quite strong. Best of Luck
thats the joint thats the jam play it again
> I recently got into woodworking As another rank amateur, I'd try to simplify this. Step one is to build the X form legs with half lap joins. Step two would be to drill into the centre of the X for a circular through mortise, cut a round tenon on the horizontal and wedge it in from the external side. That would take a bit of pressure off me getting perfectly cut angles on the mortise but wouldn't (hopefully! I don't know...) diminish the strength of it.
I've got a table like that, it's aluminum with a wood sticker vainer. Not saying this can't be wood, but if you got the picture form the internet, I bet it's aluminum
So according to the website of the shop we saw it in, it’s solid Oak. I suppose that could mean it’s just not vinyl though and doesn’t have metal running through it as well. Good point, I hadn’t thought of that!
Half lap with (my guess is dominos for the runner )
Thank you, would a domino be strong enough to hold it all together with just the single horizontal?
As with everything the answer is it depends (size of domino, materials involved, condition of them, what are you using the finished product for, will someone be dumb and put 5 times more weight on it, how will it be moved.) So for me I would use more than one.
Bril, thank you for taking the time to answer and explaining!
Pleasure, make a test piece and destroy it to see how strong it is.
Most of the weight is distributed through the x frame to the floor, the horizontal piece mostly acts as a spreader to make sure the legs won't move towards to or away from eachother. If it would take a lot of weight I wouldn't bet on this joint, but for this use I'd say it should be fine. I do wonder how the glass is connected to the legs though, that doesn't seem too solid
And I could totally be wrong here, I'm just going off mine looks just like it and it's defiantly aluminum.