Dovetail cleat – Slot and dovetail cleat taper 1/16in. in width from one end to the other. The dovetailed cleats keep a tabletop flat, and they also allow movement. Using scrap woodand a plate joiner or biscuit joiner, you can make your own DIY table top fasteners. For this example, I used “0” biscuits. “0” biscuits are about 2” long. This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. Place the apron on the table top, insert a biscuit and slide the DIY fastener over the biscuit. Do not apply glue to the biscuit. The biscuit is what allows the table top to move during seasonal changes. Attach the fastener with a wood screw.

At first, the answer to the question of how to fasten a tabletop to the table structure may seem very simple. Only when we look at the problem a little closer we can see that this is not an easy task. The way in which we should fasten the tabletop must meet several criteria: Button fastener with kerf – This method is similar to the previous one, the only difference is that the kerf under the working end of the button can be bent up or down. This bending can be very useful if you have a groove made a little higher or lower than it should be. Grooves can be made along the entire apron, or to be slightly longer than the button width. On the underside of the base, drill an elongated counterbore for the heads of the screws (they have to be flat, they can't be countersunk in this case)

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This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. To return faulty items see our Returning Faulty Items policy. Button fasteners – As the tabletop expands and contracts, button fasteners are free to slide within the groove. Grooves can be made along the entire apron, or to be slightly longer than the button width. Easy to make and install, it allows movement in two directions (along the apron and perpendicular to it). We have prepared a 3D view and 2D drawings to make it easier for you to understand how each of the methods really works. Stationary fastening method – keep the tabletop stationary. This method is usually employed where tabletop is of frame construction, made of laminated materials or for smaller tables where the tabletop is not large enough to produce much movement. The DIY fasteners need to be wider than the biscuit, so I made marks every 2-½” on a scrap piece of 1×2. Then drew lines using a Kreg Multi-Mark to make sections.

Use a countersink bit to drill a hole in each DIY fastener. Make sure not to drill through the biscuit slot. The problem with wood movement isn't that the boards gets longer. They get wider as those cells soak up the moisture in the air. There are two common assembly problems that can cause your project to fail. Solid Wood Top with a Surrounding Frame Measure the linear feet of your countertop. Make sure to add extra for cuts and fitting into corners. Also notice that I’m marking the inner side of the rails. Doing this will hide the fastener in the final piece. Metal table clips (Z fastener, S-shaped clips) – Z-fasteners are a metal version of the button fasteners. It is an inexpensive and easy to install, and allows for a great deal of wood movement.

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Properly installed, a tabletop can contract and expand with changes in humidity while staying flat and firmly connected to construction of the table. On the underside of the base, drill each hole for the screw, then elongate the holes in the direction perpendicular to the grain.

Before we look at the correct way to attach a wood table top, let’s look at the incorrect way to attach a table top. I’ve been guilty of incorrectly attaching a table top when building a table or even a stool. Wooden buttons are used to attach tabletops on much high-end furniture. They’re very strong and exude an aura of fine craftsmanship. You can make a bunch at one time and save some for use on future projects. Install them in the same manner as Z-clips.The fasteners I bought have a five eighths inch diameter, so I’m setting my ruler to just less than the radius of 5/16”. This will allow the fastener to pivot easier, which is how it protects from potential damage caused by wood movement. Where to Install Figure 8 Fasteners on the Base Thank you so much for this great article! I would love if you could explain more in depth how to attach table tops and add illustrations – I had a hard time visualizing what you meant in your post about your apothecary cabinet and the screws/washers. I don’t have a router or biscuit joiner. Is it a lost cause until I have one of those?” Notice I’m only marking on the short stretchers of the base. The purpose of these fasteners is to pivot to allow for seasonal wood movement, and the short stretchers are the best place to do that. Generally speaking, you’ll always want to install figure 8s on the stretchers that are perpendicular to the grain lines on the top, because that’s the direction most of the wood movement will occur. If you are looking for a specific table fitting and can't find what you are looking for, our staff are on hand to help with your individual requirements. You can rest assured that you will receive a prompt and reliable service from an established and proven table fitting supplier. I don't know which table fitting I need? The first step is to lay out where the fasteners will go. Set a marking gauge, a combo square, or a ruler like I have here to just smaller than the radius of your figure 8s.