Structurally, the table consists of a table top and a base. Moreover, you can choose them separately, combining different options. Today we’ll talk about how to choose table legs.
We will focus on materials of manufacture, as well as on types of designs. Plus we'll give you some practical advice before purchasing.
If you are ready, then you can start. Go!
Briefly about the main thing: the production process of table legs
There are several approaches to making this part of the table. Creation methods can be divided into mechanical and manual.
On a lathe and milling machine
There are several approaches to making this part of the table. They can be divided into mechanical and manual.
The main method is to work on a lathe. Finished block - the workpiece is attached to the support.
Rotation begins around its axis, and at this time the device is engaged in cutting out the given shape
Production is simple, and therefore the price is not particularly high. Craftsmen work with flat and semicircular chisels. The finished products have smooth outlines, and the shape can be cylindrical, cone-shaped, teardrop-shaped or spherical.
Beautiful table supports!
If you need to make an original and beautiful product, then the milling method is used. For this purpose, a milling machine was created, in the program of which the pattern parameter is specified. This method is often used when working with expensive types of wood, which eliminates the possibility of chipping defects.
For work, ready-made wood blanks of the desired shape are used.
Hand made carved legs
Carved legs are made on a multi-axis milling machine. Working with it can be computerized, but what is most valued is the unique work of the master. This is the most expensive option, which will allow you to install in your home a table with beautiful legs, the likes of which will not be available anywhere else in the world.
To create a masterpiece, a master has a lot of different tools to work with, often honing his skills over the years
Types of designs
There are 3 varieties here.
- Classic
. These are traditional, solid structures on which the tabletop rests. No adjustment provided. The design is simple and uncomplicated. But the price is low; - Telescopic legs
. They differ in that the height is adjustable due to a retractable mechanism. As a result, a large dining table can be made into a low coffee table. Often used for transforming tables; - Designer
. A choice for those who want something unusual instead of the usual supports. Rarely found on the open market. Mostly made to order.
Of course, table legs can be straight, curved, square, rectangular or even triangular, of various unusual shapes, and so on. This is a matter of taste.
Such different wood: which material is better
People have been working with wood literally since the beginning of time, since the material is accessible and relatively easy to work with. In the modern world, the environmental safety of wood plays an important role for human health and the environment.
The most popular varieties for making legs are oak, mahogany, beech, wenge, and walnut.
Each variety has its own beneficial and aesthetic features
Oak is the most resistant to humid environments, it is not afraid of temperature changes, and rotting is also not characteristic of this material. But the product will cost a lot due to the complexity of wood processing.
Walnut is also not particularly inferior to oak in terms of resistance to moisture. Walnut is easy to polish and is highly durable. But in order for the product to be resistant to rotting, it is treated with special compounds.
Beech furniture has beautiful shades, but this table is not recommended for the kitchen due to its instability to moisture.
The appearance of the product will depend on the breed.
Wenge is a wood that is resistant to damage, which will allow the table to remain in its original form for a very long time.
Mahogany has long been out of competition, but the price remains very high.
Let's sum it up
Table legs are a functional device that determines the quality of the entire piece of furniture that you use for eating, working or other needs. Be careful when choosing and creating them, then you will be able to enjoy the fruit of your labors for many years.
Not a single apartment is complete without a dining table, and even modern bar counters cannot completely replace this traditional attribute. It is installed in kitchens or dining rooms; its dimensions and materials depend on the desires and financial capabilities of consumers. How to make a dining table with your own hands? Read in the special article.
Ready-made table
In children's rooms, to create a warm and cozy atmosphere, parents prefer to install tables with multi-colored legs in bright colors, for example:
- green;
- blue;
- red, etc.
The legs can be anything, the main thing is that they perform their functions and that you like them.
As you can see, seemingly simple details from a full-fledged piece of furniture can seriously diversify and dilute the atmosphere in the room.
Structural features: how many supports there are
And depending on what kind of table we are talking about - kitchen, dining, work, decorative - the choice will be made in favor of the number of legs.
There can be only one support, but then it must be very massive, otherwise the tabletop will not be stable. For one support, a round or oval tabletop is selected.
A single support will still have a base
Two supports are often matched to the oval shape of the tabletop. To increase the support area, an extension is made downwards, and the legs themselves are connected with a jumper. The lintel can be at the top or bottom, carved or simple.
Two legs can look quite elegant
Three supports are often used for coffee tables or those serving a more decorative function.
Four supports are familiar to everyone: there is already a wide field for choosing the style and shape of products, from rough bars to legs that are amazing in their decorativeness.
Main selection criteria
When choosing a furniture support, you should pay special attention to the following parameters and characteristics:
Availability of soft pads. It is advisable that the legs be equipped with soft fabric pads, usually felt or felt. On the one hand, they protect the bottom of the product from external damage, on the other hand, they maintain the integrity of the floor covering, preventing it from scratching when moving furniture.
Product material. The selection of material occurs, first of all, taking into account the total weight of the furniture structure, and also takes into account the layout of the room and the stylistic orientation of the interior. Metal models are the most durable, followed by wooden and plastic ones. Properly selected material guarantees a long service life of the product, without loss of quality and attractive appearance.
Flooring. If you have a delicate coating that is easily exposed to mechanical stress (for example, parquet), you should opt for products that have a large area of contact with the floor. It is also recommended to purchase soft silicone mats to maintain the integrity of the flooring.
Interior Design. In appearance, the legs should match the style of the furniture and the room as a whole. Some models of decorative products can favorably emphasize the style of the room.
How to decorate table legs
Woodworking talent doesn't come out of nowhere. This is a full-fledged transfer of the experience of previous generations of masters, even through books and the Internet. All we can do is learn ready-made decorative methods and improve them.
Carving and inlay
Carving is the process of forming patterns on a surface using a chisel and some other sharp tools. This is how different patterns and ornaments are obtained that can symbolize a particular era.
Ornamented supports will suit an elegant interior
The wood is inlaid with chisels: expensive ivory, mother-of-pearl, precious and semi-precious stones become decorations.
These tables are very expensive
Lacquer, copper or bronze coating
Furniture can be gilded with gold leaf, as well as bronze or copper.
This is what furniture covered with a layer of metal looks like
Varnishing can be applied in an oriental style: it’s not without reason that antique furniture from the Victorian era has up to 200 layers of varnish!
The modern range of varnishes is large: you can give the legs a different color, giving them shine and shine
Finishing
In order for the product to last for many years, it must be processed. Legs made of chrome cannot be processed in any way, but wooden products must be properly processed.
In order for a wooden leg to serve faithfully for a long time, after manufacturing it must be treated with sandpaper . This is the polishing stage. After sanding, open with varnish or stain . Wait until dry, sand again, then re-open. Repeat this algorithm of actions several times.
Advice . The processed product takes on a marketable appearance and lasts longer.
In what style can you make table legs?
The interior style consists of the fact that each element of the furnishings must be made in a suitable decor and design. The legs were no exception.
Cabriole, Empire and Victorian style
If you haven't heard of the cabriole style, it's time to learn about it. The shape of the product is a wave with a couple of bends. The arcs seem to flow into each other. The style is characterized by rounded and graceful lines.
In the 18th century, only rich people could afford such furniture.
The Empire style and its relief have been improved century after century, acquiring its own characteristic features.
This style includes legs in the form of the paws of a griffin or other creature
Chips on furniture are unacceptable, so the type of wood must have a high density.
Victorian items are beautiful. Craftsmen applied floral patterns to the furniture, created elongated shapes and symmetry, and gilded the furniture.
Today, using all technologies, it is possible to repeat furniture elements of a bygone era.
Geometric style
The geometric style is characterized by simple and regular shapes. The legs can be conical, with additions in the form of balls or triangles. There cannot be excessive complexity in the decor, so fitting such a table into a modern style will not be difficult.
Laconicism and geometry
Design developments
To create exclusive furniture requires a certain skill, perseverance and the ability to use both modern and familiar technologies.
Carving on legs will help the master to express his intended image on wood
You can interestingly combine glass and wood
Transparent countertops are becoming more and more popular.
All the beauty of the supports is visible under the glass tabletop
The inclusion of bright colors allows you to choose a table for Art Deco, kitsch, or simply make suitable furniture to match the interior.
Making table legs with your own hands
Handmade furniture is always exclusive and unique. This is a field for experimentation and honing skills. If you are a beginner, you shouldn’t make Napoleonic plans, it’s better to just make a simple, stylish model.
General instructions
Let us describe the process of creating legs for a tabletop in several stages.
- At the first stage, we create a sketch. Some people can easily draw by hand what they saw in their heads; others can be helped by someone else’s developments that serve as the basis for their own.
- The legs should be in harmony with the tabletop and be in the same style. Therefore, you should draw all the decorative elements of the table top and supports.
- At this stage, the furniture dimensions are calculated: you can see better what the ratio of all elements should be in your model.
- It's time to buy material and prepare the necessary tools. Wood is always taken more than shown in the calculations.
- Legs are made using any available method. The easiest way is to use ready-made bars. In any case, polishing is required for smoothness.
To bring finished legs into proper shape, use varnishes and impregnations that protect the wood from moisture and rotting.
Making Tips
Now let's take a closer look at the process. You don't have to start with traditional forms. You can fold the legs from the bars, carefully fastening them with wood glue and self-tapping screws. It could be a chaotic bathhouse.
For a country table, you can take a tree trunk or a finished stump as one support.
In any case, treatment with antiseptic agents is required
If a stump is used for support, it must be dry, without signs of rotting or dampness. The bark needs to be cleaned off, as well as soft tissue.
The cut trunk or stump should be leveled using a building level, all surfaces should be thoroughly sanded and varnished. The tabletop is attached with wood screws and furniture corners. I wonder what kind of chair would go with this table?
Pros and cons of carved elements
Carved models will fit perfectly into various styles: classic, gothic, rococo, ethno-style, etc.
The advantages of wooden interior elements made using the carving method include:
- use of environmentally friendly materials;
- long-term use of furniture with proper care;
- preservation of traditions;
- originality and elegance in design;
- creating a warm atmosphere in the room with the help of such furniture;
- the possibility of restoring damaged legs, as well as returning to their original appearance.
With a large number of positive features, there are also several negative points:
