Hey everyone! I'm working on a unique dining room/gaming table that features a recessed middle area for games and puzzles. My plan is to attach the legs and a central section using threaded inserts and bolts. While I'm confident about attaching the legs, I'm a bit stuck on the central section. I'm thinking of having a piece (around 3'x5') made from 1/4" plywood, covered in speed felt, which will be bolted to the bottom of the recessed area in the table. I need to install the threaded inserts into a Maple 1"x2" on the 1" face, and I'm considering using inserts with an interior thread size of 1/4". I've included pictures in the comments to clarify what I'm envisioning. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It's great that you're thinking carefully about this! As for the placement of the threaded inserts in the 1x2s, just keep in mind that a 5/16" hole could indeed take away a lot of material, especially since the face is only 3/4" thick. If you're planning to use a total of 8 inserts and bolts to hold everything in place, I'd recommend double-checking the strength of that setup. You might want to try a mock-up with scrap wood to see how it holds up under weight before going all in.
Another thing to consider is the thickness of your plywood. A 1/4" thickness might be on the lighter side for a tabletop, especially if you want it to be interchangeable for occasions. You might want to explore options for slightly thicker materials to ensure durability and stability. Just a thought!
That's true – I might look into some thicker ply just for peace of mind!
Good tip! Testing on scrap definitely sounds like a plan.