First post here. I am looking to buy a dining table and read here that mortise and tenon represents good craftsmanship, so I am also trying to understand how mortise and tenon work on dining table. I understand mortise and tenon construction is usually applied on table legs and apron, but how does legs and apron connected to the tabletop? Do they need to dig holes on the back of tabletop?
In addition, I found a custom furniture maker who can make mortise and tenon construction. He told me that he constantly makes mortise and tenon tables and chairs. But he would suggest use screws and clips to connect the base with tabletop, so it will be easier to remove it for moving. Is this a solid construction?
I am looking at a modern looking table like this , no apron, 2 legs and a board attaching the tabletop and floor.
The picture is blurry and the appearance of the table cannot be seen clearly.
Are you trying to create the first photo table using a local cabinentmaker? If that's your goal, its not going to be satisfactory. That table in the display photo is a very high build and a local guy would have a very hard time building a one-off like it.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.
I think those joint pics look good. I agree you want the top removable from the base just because it makes it a lot easier to move, but there are tables that aren't. My Stickley pedestal table is like that where the top is not removable. This makes it a pain to move to a new house because you can't put on its side or sit anything too heavy on top of it.
The upside down table photo is not mortise and tenon, that's a slot for the design of the piece and is actually a modified through tenon. The second photo shows a box joint which is not as good as a dovetail, but probably what the designer wanted to you in the design. Those are all machine made, neither poor joints or exceptionally good ones. All that work is straight cut, and doesn't really determine how good a piece you are getting from those simple photos.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.