How to make table legs with your own hands: materials and tools, mounting methods, manufacturing options.

Tables are an integral part of the interior. A variety of forms, images and workmanships make this element of furniture not only necessary and important, but also a truly beautiful addition to the interior of the room. Particular attention is paid to the legs, since they have the most variation in performance. If you have the time and, most importantly, the desire to decorate your table and give it exclusive touches, then we will help to implement this. How to independently replace the legs of this piece of furniture?

Materials and tools for making table legs

Currently, there are up to 20 types and methods of manufacturing legs. Of course, you can limit yourself to the classic version. A rectangular-shaped table with 4 flat legs will look great and stand steady in the center of the kitchen.

REFERENCE! The most stable will be a table (like any other furniture on supports), standing on three legs, provided that the tabletop is evenly distributed over the area, and not in one line. Yes, it’s three, not four. Remember the geometry course! The plane is defined by three points. Therefore, 3 points always lie in one plane of space, and therefore, our structure will not swing from side to side under any conditions. Four points are more difficult to choose so that they all coincide in one projection, so this design is more prone to loosening.

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But despite all the huge variety of manufacturing options, the set of tools and materials is always about the same. Prepare everything you need for carpentry and get down to business.

Materials:

1. A beam of wood of any size, but not less than 50 × 100 mm (almost any species will do, but for beginners it would be better to use a pine tree, since it is easier to process).
2. Metal pipes of rectangular or circular cross section.
3. Perhaps the use of plastic blanks.
4. Glue.
5. Paint.
6. Varnish or special impregnation for the finished product.

The tools, depending on the choice of material and processing method, may require the following:

1. Roulette with a carpenter’s pencil.
2. Level.
3. Drill with a set of drills for wood and metal (depending on the material).
4. Saw, jigsaw.
5. Sandpaper or grinder.
6. Screws and screws.
7. Fastener systems.

There are many ways, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. We recommend that you work with wooden structures. They are easy to process, do not require much effort and have a pretty good life.

Mounting Methods

When choosing a material, it is necessary to choose the method of fixing the legs, which will be the maximum meet the requirements of the table and it will be easy to do it yourself without using special tools. Correctly and efficiently assembled frame and fastening legs are key factors for reliable support and extend the life of the table. Therefore, special attention is required to this stage.

Let's analyze the main types of fastening:

1. When using surface plates. The leg is simply screwed into a special hole on a metal threaded plug. Convenient for small, compact furniture.
2. The use of T-nuts. The nuts are inserted from the side into which the leg will be screwed.
3. Fixing to the countertop using ordinary screws. It does not require additional materials and imitates the integrity of the product.
4. Z-shaped holders. Conveniently and easily mounted to the body.
5. The use of a special system of grooves and docking in them. This will require processing of the wooden workpiece and the preparation of special holes and protrusions.

IMPORTANT! When carrying out work, it is necessary to use a tree with optimal humidity in the range of 6–8%. If the material is excessively wet or shriveled, it may change its size and damage to the structure.

How to make DIY table legs

Of course, you can buy ready-made parts and attach them to the countertop. It is simple and does not require much time. But if you have a desire to give your furniture uniqueness, then you can try to build legs yourself. We will analyze two options that differ in terms of complexity and style of execution.

The method without additional decoration. Simple rectangular legs for a classic table:

1. Pick up 4 bars and saw off from them workpieces approximately 0.7 - 0.82 m in length.
2. To make one leg, fasten the two parts with glue. For a secure fit, fasten them in a vise.
3. After the clutch, the details should be strictly square; for this, cuts are made at the edges.
4. Clean the tree from chipping and bumps with sandpaper.
5. To make the shape narrower and fasten the legs to the screws, cut a part of the material at an angle from the upper edge of the product. On two legs on the right and two on the left. We received a complete set for support.
6. Attach all this to the screws or one of the methods described above.

IMPORTANT! When working with glue, ensure good ventilation of the room and follow the safety rules!

The second method differs only in that we give the workpiece a certain shape with curly cuts on the frame (after we glued two parts of the bar to each other):

1. We prepare in advance a drawing of a diagram of a future work of art. This can be a decorative carving, cuts along the entire length or decoration with inlay.
2. We carry out the points above from 1 to 3.
3. We transfer the dimensions from the drawing to the part.
4. Using a machine tool or a semicircular chisel, we cut off the "excess parts" and create a figured image for the leg.
5. We process the entire surface with a grinding machine or emery to give smoothness.
6. We cover with varnish or wood-like paint.
7. Repeat the same for the 3 remaining details.

This method is much more complicated, but the result is much more beautiful. You and your loved ones will definitely like it and will surprise guests.