Round Table top with a leaf

Re: Round Table top with a leaf

Steve jenkins

For hardware I’d use Watertown metal equalizer slide if you’re keeping the pedestal. I’ve used their slides quite a few times and never had problems.

Re: Round Table top with a leaf

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

You don't make and ellipse. An extension table is the same whether it starts round or square. One that starts out round just has a joint at its "equator". It is pulled apart on the some variant of what is described above and leaves dropped in with alignment pins. Go visit a furniture store to see one in action.

Re: Round Table top with a leaf

William Duffield

Table leaf alignment pins are another underappreciated use for the Festool Domino system.

Re: Round Table top with a leaf,,,An aside

Barry Irby

William, I have the smaller of the two Dominoes (DF 500) and have found dozens of unanticipated uses. You are correct, table leaf pins and sockets would be a good one. I do wish it had a setting to stop the oscillation and reduce it to drilling dowel holes. And I wish i could buy a 3/8" cutter for it as I have a lifetime supply of stock that would fit beautifully.

So if I understand correctly

Mike L

I just make a circle then cut it in half. Then I make the leafs to what ever size I need. The slides and pins I will be purchasing pretty soon. The Festool might be awhile, I do have a centering jig I can use to drill the holes for the pins.

Thanks

Mike

Re: Round Table top with a leaf,,,An aside

William Duffield

Seneca Woodworking regrinds and sells DF700XL Domino cutters in imperial diameters. However, I can't find one on their website for the DF500. You might try calling them and asking.

https://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/3-8-domino-cutter

I can't help with the dowel joining, but someone manufactures a doweling tool that does that. When the DF500 was introduced, they sued Festool for patent infringement on the retractable side locating pins, and Festool had to change their design. I don't know the name of the company, and they may be NAINA (not available in North America).

I also made an accessory that allows me to drill a vertical column of 5mm mortises that use the Domino tenons as adjustable shelf pins. You might find them a little rustic for your fine dining room furniture, but they work great for shop cabinets and book cases. A jig for 4mm Dominos would work just as well, be less obtrusive, and are even less expensive that the 5mm tenons, as long as you are careful to cut your shelves snugly to length.

Re: So if I understand correctly

William Duffield

The Festool Domino is definitely not necessary for this application; it just makes it a lot easier, quicker, and less prone to errors (or in FEStool terminology, Faster, Easier, Smarter).

Re: So if I understand correctly

William Duffield

Your other issues will be matching the edge profile and the thickness of the new leaf to the existing top.

in a word....yes

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Again, it might be worth the trip to see a table at some furniture store.

Re: So if I understand correctly

Don Stephan

Just a couple thoughts from one that would be intimidated by the project.

Never made one, but my first thought is to make the two halves, with perfect meeting edges, then clamp them together, then rout a circle; rather than try to saw across a completed circle.

A self centering dowel jig might not work well if the two sides and leaves are not exactly the same thickness. A jig that references just off the top surface of each should position the alignment holes well regardless.

I will

Mike L

I plan on it to make sure I understand all the mechanics of them.

Re: So if I understand correctly

AZ in Colorado Springs

I've used a biscuit joiner on several tables instead of dowels. As noted, it references from the top side, so any minor inconsistencies in thickness of the stock become moot.

Re: I will.. Don't forget:

Grant In Iowa

Make sure to measure your existing table skirt when buying the table slide mechanisms. You want to be sure you get the right length to fit inside the existing square frame, assuming you are trying to preserve as much as possible of the heirloom table. This, along with the table slide dimensions will also inform how wide your leaf can be.

Depending on the table size and shape, you might be able to keep the table side rails intact and not cut them. If possible, this would help with strength. If, however, you want to make one or two wider leaves, you can cut the table skirt to allow more table size.

Also, make sure to set the slides as wide as possible in the table. This helps strength and stability in use.

Order of assembly is key here too. Make the round table top from the same stock as the leaf will be. Cut the top in half using your best means so it will be straight. Make a jig to ensure alignment dowel holes are all the same (make a mark so you don't accidentally flip it, causing something to not fit. Mount the two table top halves temporarily to the slider mechanism, ensuring the slider mechanism is almost fully closed. This ensures room for expansion and contraction. Also ensure the cut table half faces are perpendicular to the slides. Now, open the slides to maximum length (or your desired leaf width), allowing for dowel pins. Next, measure your final width dimensions for the leaf, making leaf length oversize slightly to allow final fitting later. Allow for the alignment pin dimensions. Using width information, cut both sides of leaf parallel, install dowel holes/dowels. Fit to table, close mechanism and mark for end length.

Viola!

Regards,

Grant in Iowa

Re: So if I understand correctly

Jim O'Connor

Just tap in a brad at the marked locations of one side I mark a couple of match lines on the top so they will line up where you need them, clip the heads of the brads but leave 1/8 '" sticking out, slide the pieces together with the match lines lined up and the centers will agree. The tough part is getting the perfectly straight and non angled holes.