Garden Tables

[Johnherbert]

I have been thinking about some of my first projects with milled planks and like the idea of outdoor table and benches.Do some of you use biscuits to join planks and looking at the size of some of the chunky table legs what's the best way of fixing these to make them sturdy ?

[Rob D]

Don't tend to biscuit much myself as you're leaning more towards indoor/well finished furniture with biscuiting.

 

 

My tool of choice is the impact driver and 4" index bolts - superb for pulling everything together and pretty tough. Quick and easy to use.

[MikeTM150]

i've been using stainless steel wood screws in some outdoor stuff i've done, as it will never rust and stain the wood and they are a bit easier on the eye if they happen to be in a prominent position. But index bolts are good for yanking it together tight!

[bobh]

Anyone like to put up any photos of their jointing

Especially like the sound of the index bolts, are you covering them with a plug or just recessing them?

[Rob D]

i've been using stainless steel wood screws in some outdoor stuff i've done, as it will never rust and stain the wood and they are a bit easier on the eye if they happen to be in a prominent position. But index bolts are good for yanking it together tight!

 

 

I need to yank stuff tight - would love to use stainless but would be snapping them constantly!

[Rob D]

Anyone like to put up any photos of their jointing

Especially like the sound of the index bolts, are you covering them with a plug or just recessing them?

 

 

 

Plugging looks a lot tidier but sometimes I just recess.

 

I'll stick a vid up in a couple of weeks of using one - they're ruddy marvelous!

[bobh]

Thanks Rob

Joints are always a problem for me.

I can cut stuff up but putting them back together again is a pain:biggrin:

[MikeTM150]

I need to yank stuff tight - would love to use stainless but would be snapping them constantly!

 

index bolt it is then!

[Johnherbert]

What about using dowels ? you can make your own hardwood dowels with a veritas dowel cutter and if you glue them with a fast setting moisture curing polurethane adhesive they are going to be rock solid.

[Rob D]

It's a good idea but will be time consuming? and also will this pull things together - would you have to clamp things solidly as the glue dries?

 

 

If you've got the time it's prob the way to go.....