Would it be strong enough?

[ScottGoddard]

Hi - looking at trying to build a couple of coffee tables like the one below. I do like the mitred joints, so my question is would this be strong enough just glued or would i need to strengthen the joint some how?

 

[pcb1962]

It would be fine with dominos, as long as nobody is going to sit on it

 

[custard]

would this be strong enough just glued

Even with epoxy it wouldn't be nearly strong enough. My advice would be don't attempt this project until you've got quite a bit of experience. It may look temptingly simple, but to make this to a good standard (i.e. robust construction, gap free, and with the grain flowing seamlessly around the joints) requires really precise and accurate joinery.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It would be fine with dominos, as long as nobody is going to sit on it

??????? :lol:

 

[deema]

Depending on the size of the tables you will need either joinery or additional mechanical reinforcement.

Traditional joinery would suggest something like hidden mitred dovetails to increase glue area and provide some mechanical strength. For a machining route a mitre lock block on a spindle would be a good solution.

To add additional strength depending on the size of the tables I would look to add metal angle brackets hidden within the wood. I suspect the example you have shown is made of MDF with metal brackets over veneered

 

[pcb1962]

It would be fine with dominos, as long as nobody is going to sit on it

??????? :lol:

Not sure which part of what I said is unclear - a simple glued mitre joint reinforced with dominos would be strong enough for a coffee table, not for a seat, is that better?

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Perhaps he's thinking it might just be strong enough to support a game of dominos if you're lucky ? If so, +1 from me.

A lot depends on how substantial the material is to hide an adequate joint in it. Thicker is win-win, because you reduce the forces involved, and get more meat to join into. With solid wood, mitred dovetails might be ok, but a sensible design would be better still. The grain is in the wrong direction for a mitre lock to be strong I would have thought.

 

[ScottGoddard]

thanks for all the comments...Might have to consider a design change then. Would some stretchers (thinking about sliding dovetail joint and fill the gaps) solve the issue?

The other approach is similar to one outlined above. I could be substructure within the table and cover it with thickish Plywood....i would cut out where the frame would be...