In everyday life, a small table is completelymeets the needs of a family of 3-4 people. Such a table is successfully used both as a kitchen and a dining table. The situation changes dramatically when guests appear. Many people have a desire to make an extendable table with their own hands.
Scheme of the sliding table device.Any table is not a very simple structure that must withstand significant loads and frequent movements around the apartment. Despite certain difficulties, anyone familiar with carpentry can make an extendable table with their own hands. There are many designs of extendable and folding tables. You just need to realistically evaluate which of them you can make yourself.
Step-by-step instruction: the basics of construction
Any table consists of a tabletop, legs andfasteners. Sliding (folding) structures additionally contain removable or movable tabletop inserts and a sliding mechanism. The tabletop shape can be round (oval when extended) or square (rectangular).
Scheme of fastening the guides of the sliding table.The main requirements for the design are the strength of the tabletop and the reliability of the legs, which should allow it to withstand loads (including impact) and be stable when used during cooking or at dinner. In addition, the surface should be comfortable and practical. The dimensions of the table are determined mainly by the dimensions of the room and the number of guests who can sit at the same time. The height of the dining table is usually 73 cm. The dimensions in the extended state can be calculated based on the condition that the optimal distance per person at the table is 60-70 cm. Return to the table of contents</a>
Selection of basic materials
If you decide to make a table with your own hands,you should decide on the material for the main elements. The aesthetic impression of the table design is mainly provided by the tabletop. In addition, it can be exposed to moisture, grease and other active substances used during cooking; it can be affected by high temperatures from hot dishes; significant mechanical loads can be applied. Wooden tabletops are quite reliable, environmentally friendly, practical and aesthetic, but at the same time expensive and difficult to manufacture. Pine, oak and walnut wood are most widely used as tabletops. When using wood, it should be well dried and treated with moisture-protective compounds. If natural wood is used for the surface, it must be periodically polished, as well as coated with varnish or wax.
Characteristics of materials for manufacturingtable. A simple, cheap, but quite reliable tabletop is made of laminated chipboard with a thickness of at least 20 mm. The ends of the boards are rounded and covered with a protective material, for example, silicone or PVC film. Such boards can be additionally covered with plastic. A big disadvantage of such material is swelling when moisture gets into the thickness of the material. In other respects, this material is quite capable of competing with wood. You can make the table legs yourself, or you can buy ready-made ones. The most common option is legs made of a wooden block. The minimum dimensions of the block are 40x40 mm. For large tables, you should use a larger bar. Thus, for a table with a length (in the extended state) of about 2 m, a bar with a cross-section of 85x85 mm is recommended. The legs can be square, round or carved, depending on the desire and capabilities of the manufacturer. In addition to wooden legs, metal ones are used. For example, you can buy ready-made metal legs in the form of a pipe with a diameter of 70-90 mm. You can make steel or aluminum legs yourself from a pipe and various profiles. Return to the table of contents</a>
Sliding table construction
One of the simplest designs of slidingtable is based on increasing the size by expanding the surface and laying additional elements. The main tabletop consists of two parts that are not attached to the legs and have the ability to move longitudinally in opposite directions from each other.
Drawing of a kitchen extendable table.The sliding structure consists of the following main parts: base; main tabletop consisting of two identical parts; full-extension guides; additional panels. The base is made in the form of a frame connecting the legs together using crossbars (collets) and a top panel resembling a tabletop in appearance, but fixed on the legs. Each part of the main tabletop consists of the surface itself and three side panels fixed to it. It is recommended to make the extension mechanism from standard full-extension guides for drawers. It is necessary to purchase two sets of guides at least 30 cm long. Additional elements of the tabletop are made similar to the main surface and have a length equal to the width of the tabletop, and their width is determined by the extension length. The number of elements can be from 1 to 3 at the discretion of the manufacturer. The principle of operation of the structure is very simple: both parts of the main tabletop move in the guides fixed to the table base until they stop. In this case, the tabletop slides along the surface of the base. Additional elements are installed in the resulting space between the two parts, which, together with the main parts, create the appearance of a solid tabletop. Return to contents</a>
Making the Basics
Table top holders installation diagram.The main function of the table base is to securely connect the table legs together and provide support for installing the table top. The wooden legs are connected into a single frame using wooden crossbars - collets. The collets are made of plywood or boards 10-12 cm wide and 18-20 mm thick. The length of the collets is determined by the selected size of the table in a non-extended state. To secure the collets, grooves are made in the upper part of the legs on two adjacent sides with a size corresponding to the cross-section of the collet, up to 20 mm deep. The ends of the collets are secured in the grooves. The joint is glued and secured with screws. To strengthen the connection of the legs in heavy tables, it is recommended to additionally install wooden gussets at the joints. A sheet of plywood 10-12 mm thick is secured on top of the frame. The size of the sheet is determined by the dimensions of the frame. The sheet is secured with screws. In its final form, the base is a table with a rough tabletop. The top plywood sheet is not a necessary element, since the structure will work without it. Return to the table of contents</a>
Making the main countertop
First, the two pieces are cut out and cut outtabletop parts of the selected dimensions. If necessary, the surface is faced and the ends are sealed. On the inner end (which is combined with the end of the second part) of each of the tabletop parts, two holes are drilled for the insertion of dowels of removable elements. The diameter of the hole is 8-10 mm.
Assembly and disassembly diagram of the sliding table.A U-shaped box is made from side panels, which are a strip of chipboard or a board 100-120 mm wide and 18-20 mm thick. The length of the side panels corresponds to the dimensions of the table base, measured by the legs. The corners of the box are reinforced with an aluminum corner on the inside. Narrow (reverse) parts of the guides are fixed on the inside of the side parts of the body so that the box can move at a height of about 2 mm above the plywood sheet of the table base (or the surface of the collets if there is no sheet). A tabletop is installed on top of the box so that the cut of the tabletop coincides with the free ends of the box. The tabletop and the box are connected to each other using aluminum corners. Return to contents</a>
Making additional items
In the center on the surface of the plywood base sheet(or the upper end of the collets) an aluminum corner with a vertical side of at least 40 mm is installed. The length of the corner is at least 50 cm. The wide (main) parts of the guides are fixed to the corner, two on each side. Both parts of the guides (on the tabletop box and on the corner of the base) are joined and snapped into place.
Table top cutting diagram.The main tabletop parts are moved apart as much as possible and the dimensions of the removable additional tabletop elements are specified. The additional elements are cut and sawn, and their surface is prepared in the same way as the main tabletop. Holes are drilled on the inner ends of the removable elements and dowels with a diameter of 8-10 mm are installed. The dowels are secured with glue. The removable elements are installed between the main parts of the tabletop and secured with dowels. After complete assembly, the operation of all elements is checked. If necessary, painting or additional cladding is carried out. Return to contents</a>
Design table design
The design of the sliding table allowsuse any tabletop shape. A round shape will look very modern. When extended, such a table has an oval shape. The entire manufacturing process is similar to the manufacturing of a rectangular version. The only difference is in the cutting of the tabletop. It is advisable to start cutting by drawing a semicircle of the desired size on Whatman paper and then transferring the sketch to the manufacturing material. Removable elements remain rectangular. The design of an extendable table can be enriched by changing the number of legs. Thus, for not very large tables, you can provide only one massive leg with a platform or crosspiece at the bottom. You can use two wide side legs. A mandatory element will remain the manufacture of a rectangular frame for the base of the table for installing the tabletop. Return to the table of contents</a>
Other table designs
Folding ones have a simpler design.folding tables. For example, you can make a structure that looks like a pedestal when assembled. Such a table has a main fixed tabletop 40-50 cm wide. The sides are made of the same width, which also serve as the main massive legs. The standard height of the sidewalls is 730 mm. A movable tabletop up to 700 mm long is attached to the fixed tabletop via a hinge. Such tabletops are fixed on both sides of the fixed one. Additional legs are made in the form of frames and are attached to the sides via a hinge. In this way, four legs are installed, which can be retracted inside. The extension is carried out in the following order: the movable parts of the tabletop are raised; by turning in the hinge, the legs are moved under them. As a result, the working length will be about 2 m. Return to the table of contents</a>
Required Tools
To make an extendable table with your own hands, you will need the following tools and equipment:
Tools for making an extendable table.
- drill;
- Screwdriver;
- Bulgarian;
- hacksaw;
- screwdriver;
- a hammer;
- chisel;
- plane;
- abrasive sandpaper;
- file;
- paint brush;
- Ruler;
- roulette;
- calipers;
- scissors;
- electric jigsaw;
- grinder.
An extendable table is a very convenient anda practical piece of furniture. It will help solve some problems associated with a lack of space. You can make such a table with your own hands if you apply a little imagination and familiarize yourself with the basic principles of the process.
