Performore 40 Pack Z Table Top Fasteners with Screws, Heavy Duty Z Table Top Fasteners Solid Steel with Black Screws

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On the underside of the base, drill each hole for the screw, then elongate the holes in the direction perpendicular to the grain. Top pin – Top pin can be tapered or threaded. This method is suitable for heavy and large tables that often need to be moved when expanded. In the past, it was mainly used for tables in pubs, butchers' tables and the like. 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

My dad has lectured me numerous times about the need to account for wood movement in my woodworking projects. Changes in humidity and the seasons can cause a solid wood top to expand and contract. This can ruin a perfectly good desk or table over time if it's not connected to the base properly. Wood Movement Problems

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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. 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 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.

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?” Also notice that I’m marking the inner side of the rails. Doing this will hide the fastener in the final piece. A better option for attaching a table top when building a table is to use store-bought table top fasteners or DIY table top fasteners. Table top fasteners securely attach a table top to a base but allows the top to move freely during seasonal changes. Properly installed, a tabletop can contract and expand with changes in humidity while staying flat and firmly connected to construction of the table.