How to Make Sturdy Table Legs
If you are building a custom table from raw materials or want to shore up an existing table that wobbles, you'll need to make sturdy legs.
Sturdy table legs are not only thick in dimension but also need extra hardware to make them better able to hold heavy objects and to take the wear and tear of any regularly used furniture piece. To build sturdy table legs, you'll need some woodworking tools.
Things You Will Need
- 2-inch-by-2-inch lumber, 4
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Safety glasses
- Dust mask
- Circular saw
- Sandpaper
- Glue
- L-brackets
- Screw gun and screws
-
Purchase four 2-inch-by-2-inch lumber beams from a lumber retailer or home improvement store.
-
Measure the height of the table with a tape measure, then measure and mark the 2-by-2 lumber beams to cut to that height.
-
Put on safety glasses and a dust mask. Cut the 2-by-2 lumber to fit the table height with a circular saw.
-
Sand each leg to remove any splinters and to smooth the wood surface.
-
Turn the tabletop upside down, laying it on the floor. Squeeze glue onto the top of each leg, then place each legs into the four corners, fitting tightly against the table top skirt.
-
While the glue is drying, fasten L-brackets to the legs and skirt with a screw gun. Fasten two brackets to each leg. This, along with the positioning against the skirt and glue, will make the table legs very sturdy.
-
Turn the table upright after the glue has sufficiently dried. Consult the glue label for suggested drying time.
The Drip Cap
- If you are building a custom table from raw materials or want to shore up an existing table that wobbles, you'll need to make sturdy legs.
- While the glue is drying, fasten L-brackets to the legs and skirt with a screw gun.
- This, along with the positioning against the skirt and glue, will make the table legs very sturdy.
- Consult the glue label for suggested drying time.
References
- "Furniture You Can Build: Projects That Hone Your Skills"; Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk, Del Brown; 2006
- "Tables You Can Customize"; Ernie Conover; 1995
Writer Bio
Owen Richason grew up working in his family's small contracting business. He later became an outplacement consultant, then a retail business consultant. Richason is a former personal finance and business writer for "Tampa Bay Business and Financier." He now writes for various publications, websites and blogs.
More Articles
