Here is the ultimate in folding dining room tables. Fully extended, it easily seats ten people comfortably. Stowed, it's just big enough for you and your laptop.
What's more, the legs are removable so the entire thing packs away compactly — you can stuff it in a closet. If you ever need to set up a formal dining table for ten, you just toss the thing in the back of your car and go.
The construction of the table is based on telescoping rails built from a series of hardwood blocks. This is the most interesting and challenging part of the project.
Note: the astute reader may notice occasional differences between the drawings and the photographs. Where there are differences, the drawings should taken as the canonical source. The photos are of a prototype, and the design has been refined since it was built.
The attached Sketchup files include complete designs for the table. The second file is the details of the rail construction.
This file is entered in the furniture design contest; I appreciate your vote.
What's more, the legs are removable so the entire thing packs away compactly — you can stuff it in a closet. If you ever need to set up a formal dining table for ten, you just toss the thing in the back of your car and go.
The construction of the table is based on telescoping rails built from a series of hardwood blocks. This is the most interesting and challenging part of the project.
Note: the astute reader may notice occasional differences between the drawings and the photographs. Where there are differences, the drawings should taken as the canonical source. The photos are of a prototype, and the design has been refined since it was built.
The attached Sketchup files include complete designs for the table. The second file is the details of the rail construction.
This file is entered in the furniture design contest; I appreciate your vote.
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Signing UpStep 1: Required skills, tools, and materials.
This is a project for an experienced woodworker.
Tools:
Eye and ear protection.
At the very least you'll need a table saw, drill, and router table. A power sander and drill press are highly recommended and a biscuit joiner would also come in handy. For the router, you need a dovetail bit, a 5/16" or 3/8" straight bit, and a larger straight bit capable of cutting 3/4" deep, plus any decorative bits you desire for the edges.
A sharp chisel.
A ratchet wrench, extension, and 3/8" deep socket.
Plus the usual straight edges, screwdrivers, clamps and so forth.
Materials:
Two sheets of ¾" plywood, one side good (I recommend oak).
Hardwood of the same type sufficient to make a ½"x¾" border around the entire table: two 8' lengths, two 4' lengths, and two 2' lengths. If you can't get 8' lengths, don't despair; you'll just need eight 19" lengths.
Hardwood sufficient to make 20 16"x2¼x1¼ blocks. Poplar is good; birch or maple is even better.
Six table legs, 2½" x 2½" at the top, 28" high (more or less, depending on how tall you want your table to be). You can make these or mail-order them, which is what I did. Just search for "wood table legs" and a number of vendors will pop up. Larger table legs will work just fine, but don't go smaller than 2½" x 2½".
Two table leg brackets. Just search for "table leg bracket" and a number of vendors will pop up.
Four ¼"x2½" hanger bolts (available at any hardware store). These are two-ended bolts that have wood screw threads on one end and machine threads on the other. These are screwed into wooden objects and leave protruding threads to allow things to be bolted on.
Four ¼" wing nuts and four washers.
Two 3/8"x3" hanger bolts.
two 3/8" hex nuts and two washers.
Glue, screws, stain, varnish
Tools:
Eye and ear protection.
At the very least you'll need a table saw, drill, and router table. A power sander and drill press are highly recommended and a biscuit joiner would also come in handy. For the router, you need a dovetail bit, a 5/16" or 3/8" straight bit, and a larger straight bit capable of cutting 3/4" deep, plus any decorative bits you desire for the edges.
A sharp chisel.
A ratchet wrench, extension, and 3/8" deep socket.
Plus the usual straight edges, screwdrivers, clamps and so forth.
Materials:
Two sheets of ¾" plywood, one side good (I recommend oak).
Hardwood of the same type sufficient to make a ½"x¾" border around the entire table: two 8' lengths, two 4' lengths, and two 2' lengths. If you can't get 8' lengths, don't despair; you'll just need eight 19" lengths.
Hardwood sufficient to make 20 16"x2¼x1¼ blocks. Poplar is good; birch or maple is even better.
Six table legs, 2½" x 2½" at the top, 28" high (more or less, depending on how tall you want your table to be). You can make these or mail-order them, which is what I did. Just search for "wood table legs" and a number of vendors will pop up. Larger table legs will work just fine, but don't go smaller than 2½" x 2½".
Two table leg brackets. Just search for "table leg bracket" and a number of vendors will pop up.
Four ¼"x2½" hanger bolts (available at any hardware store). These are two-ended bolts that have wood screw threads on one end and machine threads on the other. These are screwed into wooden objects and leave protruding threads to allow things to be bolted on.
Four ¼" wing nuts and four washers.
Two 3/8"x3" hanger bolts.
two 3/8" hex nuts and two washers.
Glue, screws, stain, varnish
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My solution is a lot less elegant, but even I could build it in a day or so. Thanks for the inspiration!
I think this is a great idea, and just might make a set of short legs myself.
You would want to trim the edge of the top with veneer of some sort, but I'm sure it could be done.
Keep the great ideas coming!
Table extenders are available from Lee Valley (probably other woodworking supply places as well) if you don't want to make them. http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=40139&cat=3,43586
I have to admit, my first thought was "This would be amazing for D&D nights."
"Hey, I'm bringing the Doritos & Mountain Dew!"
"Okay, I'm bringing the table."
Just an amazingly creative piece of work. :)
Amazing ! I like it very well. design is best !
Keep posting new ideas
Regards
Sandeep
http://www.resourcefurniture.com/space-savers/space-saving-tables/goliath
I really like the idea. You could probably use heavy duty drawer slides in place of all the dovetailing. The end result would be similar I think.
We have a bunch of drawer slides from old server racks in our server room at work that are just ripe for picking. I might have to liberate a few to do something similar.
Great writeup, craftsmanship and finished product!