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Build a simple table for two
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Simple in both design and construction, this elegant little table is a breeze to build
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By Ken Tunnard, photos by Tracy Cox, illustration by Len Churchill
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Using pre-turned legs for this table speeds up the entire process and adds character to the overall project.
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Elegant Aprons
Cut the aprons to length, then draw an arc shape along each bottom edge. Start by marking a point in the centre of an apron, 3" up from the bottom edge. Next, bend a piece of thin wood or other flexible material from the end of the apron to the point in the centre, then back down again. Trace the arc with a pencil, then cut it out using a jigsaw, scrollsaw or bandsaw. Clean up the saw marks by hand or with a drum sander mounted in a drillpress. If you like, you can add a small detail on the bottom outside edge of each apron, using a table-mounted router with a 1/8" radius roundover bit.
Next, biscuit-join the aprons and legs together with two #20 biscuits centred in each joint. No biscuit joiner in your shop? Dowel joints are a great alternative, and all you need to make them is a drill bit, some fluted dowels, and a couple of aluminum dowel centres to mark hole locations.
The corner blocks sit right at the corners where the aprons meet the legs. These strengthen the table and keep it square. They also give you something to fasten the tabletop to later.
Cut the corner blocks from soft maple off-cuts-90º in one corner and 45º on the others, with the inner corner cut back to accommodate the leg. Instead of typical screw holes, I used my router with a straight bit to create oval slots for the screws. I oriented these perpendicular to the wood grain of the tabletop. The oval shape allows the top to expand and contract with seasonal changes in humidity-an important detail whenever you're working with large expanses of solid wood.
Fasten the corner blocks with glue and screws so they sit 1/16" below the top edges of the aprons. This allows the top to be pulled down tightly to the aprons as you drive in the screws after finishing.
Gently round the edges of the top with either a block plane or a sanding block. This small detail helps the wood finish stick better, and makes for a more comfortable tabletop to lean on.
Next, glue up the table legs and aprons. I cut small V-shaped clamping blocks from plywood to protect the outside corners of the assembly under clamping pressure. These blocks also help keep the base square as the glue is drying. You can keep them around for assembling other projects later.
Done Like Dinner
Prepare the wood for finishing by sanding with 120-, 150- and 180-grit paper, removing dust with a tack cloth or vacuum between each step. Polyurethane (either water- or oil-based) works well because it enhances wood grain and protects the surface. Apply at least three coats, or four if you want extra durability.
When the finish is dry, fasten the tabletop with #8 x 1 1/4" screws driven up through the corner blocks.
Set out some chairs and celebrate your handiwork with a good meal.
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