Aragorn
Established Member
Here are some images of a recent project.
The brief from the customer was to build a coffee table that she could convert into a card table-cum-dining table to seat 4 people.
She wanted it to be simple and quick to change over.
A while ago I had seen this idea for a convertable table and adapted the design to an simpler all-timber version that I consider to be just as convenient.
This is also my first attempt at including images in a post, so thanks to Adam for his help in the Sticky off-topic post and fingers-crossed, here goes.
Coffee Table (first view)
Coffee Table (second view)
Now, lift off the top, turn the base onto its side and replace the top. This is now a card/dining table. The top has indentations on it's underside to locate it on the frame and keep it secure.
Here is a close-up of the through-mortice and tenon joint in the legs
Here is a close-up of the central "hub". This was originally planned to be a half-lap joint, but I made a cutting error which would not normally have mattered, but because the width of the frame determines it's height when set up as a dining table, the mistake proved to be an important one. My solution was to incorporate this hub which is attached to the rails with double M&Ts with loose tenons. On balance I prefer the look of this and it is a stronger joint than the half-lap would have been. Phew!
Finally, a shot of the frame assembly on its own.
The table is american cherry finished with 5 coats of Liberon Finishing Oil and a coat of Liberon Black Bison Fine Paste Wax buffed to a medium shine.
In use, it has been favourably appreciated! If you're planning a coffee table and are short of space and could use this kind of solution, I recommend designing something along these lines.
EDIT: Images now hosted on Waterhead's site (thanks Chris)
The brief from the customer was to build a coffee table that she could convert into a card table-cum-dining table to seat 4 people.
She wanted it to be simple and quick to change over.
A while ago I had seen this idea for a convertable table and adapted the design to an simpler all-timber version that I consider to be just as convenient.
This is also my first attempt at including images in a post, so thanks to Adam for his help in the Sticky off-topic post and fingers-crossed, here goes.
Coffee Table (first view)
Coffee Table (second view)
Now, lift off the top, turn the base onto its side and replace the top. This is now a card/dining table. The top has indentations on it's underside to locate it on the frame and keep it secure.
Here is a close-up of the through-mortice and tenon joint in the legs
Here is a close-up of the central "hub". This was originally planned to be a half-lap joint, but I made a cutting error which would not normally have mattered, but because the width of the frame determines it's height when set up as a dining table, the mistake proved to be an important one. My solution was to incorporate this hub which is attached to the rails with double M&Ts with loose tenons. On balance I prefer the look of this and it is a stronger joint than the half-lap would have been. Phew!
Finally, a shot of the frame assembly on its own.
The table is american cherry finished with 5 coats of Liberon Finishing Oil and a coat of Liberon Black Bison Fine Paste Wax buffed to a medium shine.
In use, it has been favourably appreciated! If you're planning a coffee table and are short of space and could use this kind of solution, I recommend designing something along these lines.
EDIT: Images now hosted on Waterhead's site (thanks Chris)
