The most important part of creating a table is to attach its legs which you can do in two ways. Aprons must be attached to large tables, but you can attach legs without aprons to smaller tables. If you don’t know how to attach legs to a table without the apron, then continue this.
The legs of small tables are usually attached without aprons, as tables without aprons are less sturdy. You can easily attach the legs without an apron using a metal plate called a surface plate. However, if you want to move your table more, you must install T-nuts directly to attach the legs.
In this article, I will discuss attaching a table leg without an apron in two simple ways. You can attach the legs of the table in any of these processes according to your convenience. In the middle of the article, I will show you some important tips that will help you attach your table’s legs.
2 Easy Ways To Attach Table Legs Without An Apron: Choose The Suitable One
Many have suggested attaching a table leg without an apron in many ways, but here I will share with you two easy ways. Hopefully, these processes will make attaching the leg to your table easier.
Way-1: Using Surface Plates (6 Steps)
Surface plates are the best way to attach a leg to a small table without an apron. Surface plates have to be placed at the bottom of the table which attaches the legs to the tabletop.
It can hold the legs straight and vertically on your table. However, to attach the legs in this process, you will need to buy matching hanger bolts with threaded screws on both ends of the surface plate.
Step-1: Assemble Necessary Equipment
To attach the table leg in this process, you first need to buy 4 table surface plates and hanger bolts. But if your table is round, three surface plates are enough.
There is a list of all the necessary equipment you might need to attach the table legs with a surface plate:
- Table surface plates;
- Hanger bolts;
- Electric screwdriver;
- Drill machine;
- Open-ended wrench.
Step-2: Set The Surface Plates
Now you have to set the surface plates at the four ends of the table. But before attaching the plates, one has to be set in the right place. Set these so that each surface plate is at an equal distance from the table’s edge. If precise estimates are required, adjust the plates at equal distances by measuring from the table’s edges.
Step-3: Screw The Surface Plates
After adjusting the surf plates in the right place, they need to be screwed on. It will have the necessary screws when purchasing surface plates. These screws have to be fitted with holes in the outer edge of the surface plate.
When the screws are large enough, it is enough to drill holes in your whole table, so make sure the screws are not too big. The front screws are hard to attach, so hold them in place with someone else and use an electric screwdriver to attach the screws.
Step-4: Drill A Pilot Hole
Drill pilot holes in the center of the foot of each table to attach the surface plates. The pilot holes do not allow the wood to crack. After drilling the holes, rotate the legs of the table and adjust the upper part to the table.
If you purchase legs with hanger bolts, you do not need to drill pilot holes. Wrap the tape around the drill bit as it may crack due to drilling the wood.
Step-5: Install The Hanger Bolts
Set one bolt in each drilled pilot hole and rotate it clockwise by hand to insert it inside the foot. In this case, you can use an open-ended wrench and bend them until the bolts are tightly locked. Make sure the bolts fit properly because the legs of the table will not be firmly attached if the bolts are not tight.
Step-6: Connect The Hanger Bolts With Surface Plates
Finally, you need to keep your legs safe by turning them clockwise and checking if they are firm and level. So, turn the table upside down and check that the legs are properly attached to the table.
It is not difficult to attach the legs of the table to the surface plates. If the connection is not tight, then the main reason may be the positioning fault.
Way-2: Installing T-Nuts (7 Steps)
The T-nut is a circular connector that connects the legs to the table from the bottom of the table. When you buy T-nuts, take the same diameter hanger bolts. With T-nut, you can attach the legs of the table without an apron.
Step-1: Assemble Necessary Equipment
To attach the legs of the table using T-nut, first, you need to assemble the necessary tools, and this will make the task much easier. Here you will find a list of what you need to get involved in this process, which are available online or at home improvement stores:
- T-nuts;
- Hanger bolts;
- Hammer;
- Electric screwdriver;
- Drill machine;
- Open-ended wrench.
Step-2: Position The T-Nuts
Turn the table over and decide where to attach the T-nuts. If the table is rectangular, make three places if it is round and round. Arrange the nuts in such a way that you keep equal distances at each end. When necessary, mark each spot by measuring each edge accurately.
Step-3: Drill The Holes
Make a hole using a drill where you will attach the leg to the table. The holes must be made in the shape of a T-nut, otherwise, the nuts cannot be set tightly. Make sure that the table is not fully drilled, otherwise, cracks may appear in the table. If your table is thin, use small T-nuts.
Step-4: Tap The T-Nuts
Now gently tap the T-nuts into the hole with a hammer and position it so that the wide and rounded edges face each other. With light pressure, gently insert each T-nut inside and level it with the wood. Since there are small blades at the base of each T-nut, the nuts go into the wood when the hammer is hit with a little pressure.
Step-5: Drill A Pilot Hole
You have to drill a pilot hole in each table leg, but if you buy a leg with installed hanger bolts, this step is not for you. Drill holes accordingly by making a mark in the middle of each leg to connect the legs to the table first. Drill the hole so that the diameter of the hanger screws is purchased, and choose smaller size hanger screws if necessary.
Step-6: Screw The Hanger Bolts
Fit the hanger bolts into the drill holes in the foot of the table. Before tightening the bolts, turn them by hand. If necessary, get some help to hold the legs in place. After setting the bolts in the drilled hole, tighten the screws with an open-ended wrench.
The legs should be screwed properly, and they should not be shaky. When the screwing is done, turn the table upside down to check if the legs are properly connected.
Step-7: Twist The Legs Onto The T-Nuts
To fit the legs with the table, place the nuts on the T-nut until the nuts are aligned with the table. Turn them around clockwise until the bold is completely tight. When the work is done, the work of connecting your legs will be completed as soon as the table is turned upside down.
5 Tips To Attach Table Legs Without An Apron:
While attaching a leg to a table without an apron is not difficult, a few tips can make your job much easier. You may not consider these things as I did when you first did the work.
So, I will personally give some tips that will be helpful for leg attachment on the table without the apron.
Tips-1: First, you need to ensure personal safety, so wear glasses. Also, when using electric machines, make sure that the wires are leaking somewhere.
Tips-2: If you do not want to add an apron to the table, you must make the table with thick wood. To make the table with plywood, drilling a hole to attach the leg can cause cracks in the table.
Tips-3: Measure the size of the screw before drilling a hole. Because the drill hole is bigger than the screw, and the screw will stick out and not fit in place.
Tips-4: Before attaching the leg without an apron to the table, make pencil markings on the leg joints of the table. As a result, you do not have to measure the table’s edges when drilling holes repeatedly.
Tips-5: If you can’t find the T-nut when attaching the leg to the table in a second way, attach the legs to the table using threaded inserts. It’s like a T-nut, a round fastener, and the installation process is the same.
Frequently Asked Question:
Can You Attach Legs To A Table Without An Apron?
How you finish your table will depend on your preferences. You can install the leg directly without putting an apron under the table if you want. However, if the apron is not fitted, the table cannot be moved much. Adding an apron makes the legs of the table stronger.
When you attach a leg to a table without an apron, it should be set in such a way that it does not have to be moved anywhere else, as tables without an apron are a bit shaky. As a result of excessive movement, its logs can be opened.
What Types Of Screws Will You Need To Install Table Legs Without An Apron?
2 types of screws are required for table leg installation without an apron. One of these screws is a wash head without any dots used to attach the legs to the table. The other is a screw with a flat head. It is used to attach cross pieces.
You should never use screws with a washer head to attach to a table leg. However, to reduce the risk of breaking the finger when tightening the screw, inserting the screw with the washer in different places is possible.
Which Table Leg Can Be Attached Without An Apron?
It is quite easy to attach a leg to a table without an apron, but it is not suitable for all tables. You can only attach legs without aprons to small tables. However, this is not suitable for a large table. Because if you attach the leg without an apron, it will not be able to withstand the heavy load so that the legs may be separated from the table.
Since small tables do not hold heavy objects, attaching aprons to these tables is no problem. You will also need to attach an apron if you move the table too much. The legs of the tables that have to be relocated every few days cannot be attached without an apron.
Is It Difficult To Attach A Leg To A Table Without An Apron?
If you know the right process, anyone can make a table without an apron. The task may seem daunting for those new to this work, but attaching a leg to a table without an apron is not a difficult task.
No professional is required to attach the legs of the table without an apron; you can attach the legs of the table yourself. But keep in mind that it is not right to attach a leg without an apron on all types of tables.
Conclusion
Following the two ways shown in this article, I hope you will be able to attach the legs of the table without the apron. Also, since I have shared some personal tips here, I think you have no more questions about how to attach legs to a table without the apron.
However, if you still have any questions about this, see the section below. I hope there you get the information you want.
Meta
Do you know how to attach a leg to a table without an apron? If you don’t know, learn now. Here you can find two easy ways of this.
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https://myfurnitureplan.com/how-to-have-a-yard-sale-without-tables/
https://myfurnitureplan.com/executive-office-table/