I have a party coming up next week, and my wife has asked me to build a foldable 8-foot table. I initially thought about using edge-glued panels, but with only a week left and no time to acclimate the wood, I'm considering plywood instead. The table will measure 8 feet long and 30 inches wide, with a plywood top that I'll cut in half for folding. I'll attach foldable legs and was planning to add an apron, although that will also be cut in half for folding. I'm concerned about sagging since Sagulator indicates excessive sag when I input my dimensions. I used about 20 inches per foot for a uniform load, but should I reduce that since it's just for dining? I might support the bottom with cross pieces, but I'm unsure how effective that would be. Any advice on how to move forward?
3 Answers
You might be overthinking this with the little time you have! Just rip your 30-inch plywood for the top, add some apron strips to stiffen it, and set it up on sawhorses for now. It will hold up well for a dining setup.
To truly minimize sagging, consider constructing a torsion box. Use the plywood for the top and 1x for the sides, then add stiffeners. You can put a second layer of plywood underneath for extra stability, and it’ll help with folding too!
Honestly, if you're really pressed for time, just grab a couple of cheap plastic folding tables. You can easily dress them up with a tablecloth for your party, plus it'll save you a ton of hassle.