Thread: Novice here, needs some help on building a table

Hello everyone, first post here!

I've made some stuff for myself before but this is the first big project I'm making for someone else, so I'd like to make sure I get everything right.

I'm going to build a small dining table, I made a couple of renders:


01.jpg02.jpg03.jpg

The table is 800mm x 1200mm x 700mm, the bench is 400mm x 1120mm x 400mm

What square tubes should I use to build these so I can make sure they won't wobble? In the project I made them 20mm x 20mm, my local supplier has them in 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5mm thick walls. Of course I could also go with larger tubes, but that would drive the price up significantly. Is there any sort of reinforcement of the structure you would suggest? I'm considering adding a "T" on the middle of the bench since it's supposed to sit 2 people

I'm planning on welding everything except the length one on floor of the table, with it I don't think it will be able to maneuver through the door thresholds of the client. This one I'm considering screwing both ends like this:
04.jpg

I'd have to make a tap on both ends of the tube but I don't have a tapper, or I could just weld a nut on the inside, which I have done before but had some trouble with smaller nuts. Is this a good idea, or should I do it in a completely different way?

I'd use 25 x 25 x 2mm tube.

A key test for me for any table is can two (yes 2!) adults stand on top or sit on the edge.

I would add triangular bracing to reduce sideways wobble:

Bracing.png

The braces at floor level are a pain in the ar8e to clean around. The end ones not too bad but all 3 is not good.
Don't ask me how i know that

Originally Posted by AlexD

I would add triangular bracing to reduce sideways wobble:

Bracing.png

Nice idea, I'll probably do that for the bench. As for the table I can't do it like that, there will also be another 2 of the clients chairs on that side. I think putting those bracers in the center might make them shin killers as well

Originally Posted by BobL

I'd use 25 x 25 x 2mm tube.

A key test for me for any table is can two (yes 2!) adults stand on top or sit on the edge.

In my projects I always prefer to overkill than risk something not being sturdy enough, but for a large piece like this one it will make it cost so much more I'm afraid the client might give up, that's why I'm trying to get a little bit closer (without compromising quality of course.)

Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

The braces at floor level are a pain in the ar8e to clean around. The end ones not too bad but all 3 is not good.
Don't ask me how i know that

Yeah I can see that now that you mentioned it. Maybe instead make it a flat bar passing on top of them? Wouldn't be all that much better for cleaning, but it would surely make the screwing part a lot easier

I do furniture to order on a semi regular basis.
I wouldn't make that out of anything smaller than 40x40. 20x20 will hold it, but will look aesthetically unpleasing.
1.6 Wall is more than adequate for pretty much all furniture.

Edit: I'll post a couple of pictures that may help you a bit later this evening.

A couple of pictures of an outdoor table frame I made.
Material is 50x75x3mm wall (supplier didn’t have any 1.6 or 2.0 in stock at the time)
The connections are bolted, I made some threaded slugs to go into the middle of the tube to provide captive inserts. I put a radius on the connection plate to soften the hard square edge. Finished table is 2000 long x 900wide, but that type of connection is scalable for your smaller table.

The important thing to remember if you are building for others and charging for it are build what the customer wants not what you want to build for the customer, that means they select tube size.

Good luck with the project

Originally Posted by racingtadpole

The important thing to remember if you are building for others and charging for it are build what the customer wants not what you want to build for the customer, that means they select tube size.

Good luck with the project

you table looks very nice, thanks for the pics! And yeah, this makes total sense but wouldn't the client then pick thinner tubes, since they're cheaper?

Completely up to your customer. Better to ask them what they want and lose the job because your quote is beyond their budget than to make assumptions, build what you think they want and then find that it’s not what they want and not get paid and have an unhappy customer.