I own a janky old wooden desk, and have been using it for 20 years. Before that it was someone's kitchen table, and its at least 50 years old and has had many modifications - its not an antique despite being old.
I'd like to move it into a small sewing room, but it won't get around the corners. To resolve this, can I cut the legs off and reattach them firmly once in the room?
The four legs are 55mm square ( 2 1/16 inch). The front legs are exposed on three sides, and the rear legs are exposed on two adjacent sides.
Option 1. Cut the legs, and use some kind of threaded wooden dowel or big metal coach bolt with threadded ends to wind the legs back together.
Option 2. Use one of those toolbox closure clasps to tension the leg, peraps with a slip-fit center dowel.
Option 3. a fancy hinge somehow, combined with a latch - there's a bunch of them for card tables but they are supposed to sit right under the desk's top.
Option 4. Remove the legs and support completely, and make new folding legs for the old tabletop.
Option 5. Remove the stringer at the back, and make each pair of legs fold in toward the center, like a cheap plastic buffet table.
Other ?
I'm contemplating cutting the legs right under the stringer board and having 4 legs that fold at 80% of their length, or removing the top and making both sides fold on a pair of long piano hinges. Locking the sides open might use a couple of wooden dropper plates also hinged.
