Replies

1. 
   douglas2cats | Aug 08, 2006 03:08am | #1

   I did a grid-type shelf on tapered legs by hanging a stretcher on 2 sides. You could do something similar and have a solid shelf rest on the stretchers.

    

   If you build it he will come.

1. 
   jrogerh | Aug 08, 2006 08:57pm | #5

   A very nice looking table.  Maybe the tapered shoulders on the tenons wouldn't be that difficult.

1. 
   douglas2cats | Aug 09, 2006 12:58am | #7

   They're actually not all that hard though you do need to change the miter gauge angle from one side of the stretcher to the other. I you dry clamp the table together then clamp the stretchers across the outside surfaces of the legs at the height you need them, you can use a flat marking knife up against the tapered surface. That will get you one side marked for the shoulder. Set a bevel gauge while it's still clamped on. Then use a square and the bevel gauge to get shoulder knife lines on the other 3 sides. Add the tenon length you need and use the bevel gauge to set the TS miter gauge. It don't hurt to put a mark on the stretchers to indicate which side is up. It's usually a pretty small angle on the ends and easy to get turned around the wrong way.If you build it he will come.

2. 
   John_D | Aug 08, 2006 03:10am | #2

   You can cut the mortises while the stock's still square, then scribe your mating stock after you've cut the tapers.  Floating tenons would make this easier, as you won't have to cut tapered shoulders.

   My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
3. 
   joinerswork | Aug 08, 2006 04:03pm | #3

   jroger,

   The suggestion of stretchers is the strongest and the most trouble, as the shoulders of the tenons must be angled to mate with the taper of the legs.

   For a smaller table, up to maybe 28" long x 16" wide, you might consider cutting dadoes across the inside corners of the legs.  Make a cradle to hold the legs with the corner of the leg facing the saw's table, or scribe, saw and chop out by hand.  The shelf, if 5/8" or so thick will be strong enough for most purposes.  Clip the corners off to match the dadoes, and slip into place after assembling the table.  Pocket screws on the underside of the shelf hold it in place.

   I have an antique tapered leg table that I didn't want to deface by cutting dadoes, so  I just notched the 23" x 14 1/2" shelf to fit around the legs, and attached it with just the pocket screws.  It holds a DVD player and satellite TV box with no problems now for the last 25 years or so.

   Regards,

   Ray Pine

1. 
   jimmy | Aug 08, 2006 05:06pm | #4

   Hey Ray--  Where did you get a dvd player and satellite box 25 years ago? 

1. 
   joinerswork | Aug 09, 2006 01:45am | #8

   Jimmy,

   Hah, it was a VCR back then, which was heavier than the two boxes that sit on it now.

   Ray

2. 
   jrogerh | Aug 08, 2006 09:01pm | #6

   I thought about cutting notches in the legs but it seems like it would be difficult to notch the four legs to the exact dimensions of the shelf.  Maybe it would not really be that difficult.