Table leg half laps

9/25/17, 9:30 PM #1

Jack Guzman from Maine
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Table leg half laps

Jack Guzman from Maine

I have been given a repair project. It is an old curly maple table with no legs. The client provided three leg pieces and no idea how they went together. I figure it was an X shaped pair of legs combining half laps joining each pair of legs with a cross bar mortised into the center of each half lap.

and a close-up of the half lap

I posted a couple pictures of what I have, in what I believe are their relative positions to the table top. The upper half of the legs was mortised into cleats attached to the underside of the top. Unfortunately the upper halfs are missing.I need a picture of a complete set of legs in this style to get a better idea how to recreate these legs.

What would you call this style of table?---thanks---Jack

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/25/17, 10:30 PM #2

Dick Coers
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Demilune table?

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 12:59 AM #3

Jack Guzman from Maine
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More info

Jack Guzman from Maine

I guess I need to be a little more clear. The sketch is my guess at the shape of the completed leg system. Sorry I don't sketch very good.

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 11:51 AM #4

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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Re: More info

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I think your sketch describes the original design of the table. It has a Duncan Fife (spelling?) look about it. What is the motivation for recreating it? It appears that the top is the only part left that can be rescued. With that the case what does it matter what kind of legs it gets under it? They could even be legs that would last if someone sat on the table. T e original design is only suitable for a tray stand.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 12:26 PM #5

Jack Guzman from Maine
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Re: More info

Jack Guzman from Maine

The top is some very nice figured maple with breadboard ends and edging. The client wants me to try to get it as original as possible. It is her hobby to refinish old furniture. I'm just to do repairs.

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 12:53 PM #6

Barry Irby
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Re: More info

Barry Irby

Jack I understand her wanting to go back to the original, but you have discovered the flaw in the design. Stylish and attractive, but not very strong. Nice design, bad Engineering. I think I agree with Bill. Your repair will never be "Original".

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 1:01 PM #7

Tony - Memphis
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Neat

Tony - Memphis

Sounds/looks like a neat table. I did a Google on coffee table with scissor legs and found this...

http://www.rossitersofbath.com/mahogany-scissor-leg-coffee-table.html

Not an exact match, but perhaps a good reference? Let us know what you come up with, I like the design.

Tony

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 1:06 PM #8

Jack Guzman from Maine
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bingo

Jack Guzman from Maine

Tony,I think that is pretty much what I need to build. Scissor leg. thanks

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 1:12 PM #9

Jack Guzman from Maine
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maybe but...

Jack Guzman from Maine

I've run into this scenario before when repairing chairs. Some designs were destined to fail, but I won't try to improve on the design. My job is is to reproduce the original and I'm going to attempt to,flaws and all. I think it is an interesting look even though it is weak.

I will post a picture of the finished table. thanks---Jack

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 1:24 PM #10

Thomas Skaggs
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Regency

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

That style was used during the Regency period. If you search, you can find examples of Regency tables with a scissor form like this:

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 2:14 PM #11

Barry Irby
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Re: Regency

Barry Irby

Jack, if you laminate those arches, they would be much stronger.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 2:14 PM #12

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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Re: More info

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

If the legs aren't salvaged it is not a repair; its a new table. But the customer is always right. Keep the patterns. If someone sits on it you will be doing another repair.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 2:27 PM #13

Jack Guzman from Maine
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Re: Regency

Jack Guzman from Maine

I agree. I was laying out a possible pattern for one leg and noticed that the weak point is right at the center joint.Not sure how that will work but I will explore the possibility.

- - -

I am a carpenter by trade.Also a handyman/Jack -of-all-trades.I work around my neighborhood mostly helping people keep up their old houses.I have a fairly large woodworking shop in my house where I work with both hand and power tools. At the moment I'm focusing on Windsor chairs building.I will build most anything if needed. I'm always learning,adapting,changing trying to broaden my woodworking skills.I work mostly with hand tools in my shop but will use power if it is a better way to get the desired result. My wife,Donna,and I live in the woods of Maine with our dogs,cats,and birds. We have 5 grown kids and six grandchildren. Woodcentral has been central to my growth as a woodworker. I pass through this place every day.

Re: Table leg half laps

9/26/17, 3:08 PM #14

Barry Irby
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Another thought....

Barry Irby

You could install a "spider" on the inner side of each leg or even embedded into the legs. In this case that would be an X brace possible with a hole in it to accommodate the stretcher.

They (spiders) were common under the bottom of tables with posts and three or four legs dovetailed into them.

Table leg half laps

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