26
votes
Fix puncture in Ikea Linmon table
Get a piece of ply bigger than the hole (at least 2 or 3 times the size and use it to spread the load.
If the clamping side is also small then another spreader may be a good idea.
There was a similar ...
- 26.3k
18
votes
Asbestos in old furniture adhesive?
As I've posted before, the risks of asbestos exposure on a very infrequent basis in a residential setting are highly over-blown. The real risks were for construction workers (pipe insulators, HVAC ...
- 23.1k
18
votes
Accepted
Attach wheels to hollow metal table legs
You just buy the right casters.
What you need are "expanding stem mount" aka "expansion mount" casters, which are designed to insert into tubes, then be tightened to expand a ...
- 201k
15
votes
Accepted
How to improve this table stability?
The minimum would be diagonal bracing on back and side.
+---+
| /|
| / |
|/ |
+---+
Triangles resist lateral forces much better than rectangles do.
- 24.2k
14
votes
Fix puncture in Ikea Linmon table
If you want to be slightly decorative you could try something like this...
Start with an aluminum cake pan, maybe 8" diameter (or larger?) With a removable bottom; example:
You only need the ...
- 5,435
12
votes
Accepted
A type of compartment that rises out of a desk
Search for "Lift up" hinges. These will let you lift up a section of desk to reveal something underneath, but won't let you click in the desk to lift it up. For that, you'll want push ...
- 2,492
12
votes
How can I make this X-legged table more stable?
Lateral diagonal reinforcement is needed. At the moment the feet are only protected against lateral tilting by the flimsly plate at the top.
Try to immagine the resulting forces (lever law) when ...
- 3,064
11
votes
How can I make this X-legged table more stable?
You need to add diagonal bracing or struts as shown in the pic.
Without a dissertation about the laws of physics that apply, you simply need to use the strength of the triangle.
Even 1 inch square ...
- 25.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Quick ways to reinforce cheap wood-like IKEA table?
I'll assume the arm's clamp is big enough to add a 3/4 inch piece of wood above and below the table.
Go to the hardware store and get an off-cut of wood about 3 inches wide and a foot long. This can ...
- 34.3k
8
votes
How can I move a 500 lb wooden table top into my basement down a flight of stairs?
That is a big piece of wood. There are three obvious approaches:
Get some professionals to do it. A grand piano weighs more than that (and is more awkwardly shaped). Professionals will have the ...
7
votes
A type of compartment that rises out of a desk
To hold it up there are cupboard door stays used in motorhomes/caravans (RVs etc.). Here (eBay) are some I've used. They're just a spring in a tube, and aren't all that strong, but should do this ...
- 6,013
6
votes
How to improve this table stability?
You could add some very large steel L brackets to brace the legs and try to stiffen them a bit, but it would still be somewhat shakey. The "right" way to fix this is to use "cross bracing". The two ...
- 27.7k
6
votes
How can I find the centre of a round table?
I think this technique using chords with 90 degree lines is probably the easiest to do because it involves standard construction tools and can compensate for inprecise measurements.
You just need a ...
- 28.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Which varnish to choose for a first time job (desk)?
Since you'll be finishing the pieces in the building, lacquer is out. It stinks to high Heaven and unless you use a pre-catalized lacquer, it is prone to water stains such as condensation from a cold ...
- 23.1k
6
votes
A type of compartment that rises out of a desk
There are purpose-built products out there that are designed to do this.
Hard to show an example without it coming across as a recommendation, but you may want to explore something like this:
Table ...
- 390
6
votes
Fix puncture in Ikea Linmon table
I know its not a fix as such, but its probably not worth going out your way to fix this issue, The desk in question is very cheap and a new top can be purchased for as a little as £6.
https://www.ikea....
- 442
6
votes
The cheapest (in terms of efforts) way to mount mic stand to a table with slanted edges
A piece of a board between the clamp and the tabletop should work.
If not sturdy, then drill a hole in the clamp arm and use a screw to secure the end of the board.
You could also attach the board to ...
- 2,760
6
votes
How can I make this X-legged table more stable?
Nontrivial gaps are probably opening between the steel and the tabletop when you push horizontally. Insufficient stiffness of the steel ear plates is probably the root cause. The torsional stiffness ...
- 5,203
5
votes
What is the name of the hardware used to build this dinner console table?
They're called table slides or extension slides. They generally come in 2 versions - one for pedestal type tables (sometimes called equalizer slides) and one for traditionally legged tables.
As far ...
- 6,905
5
votes
How to repair chipped glass
I agree that replacing with tempered glass is your best option. But if you want cheap, there are other options.
I don't know about regular super glue or Krazy glue. It would probably work fine. ...
- 73
5
votes
Fixing a bent bolt?
That should be a "hanger bolt", with screw threads on one end and bolt threads on the other. If it's really bent you could unscrew it from the leg and install a replacement.
- 27.5k
5
votes
Build workbench against wall or free standing
If you have the space, a freestanding workbench away from the wall is a great thing to have. It is much easier to move your body around the bench and workpiece than to rotate the workpiece, ...
- 35.1k
5
votes
Accepted
How do I remove wobble from my DIY table?
Your table and legs and floor are turning into parallelograms. This is because the legs have no resistance against swinging on their mounts.
I suspect that these legs are not designed to prevent ...
5
votes
Running 240v from two separate 120v receptacles
Don't hokey-doke this thing when it's so easy to do it right.
You already have the right wires in the wall
You already have a dedicated circuit for your table saw. I presume you don't plan on ...
5
votes
Is there any way to stop a low-profile desk from racking back and forth?
The "very minimalist look" is a bit too minimalist for boring old function. You may regret "living with it" when it fails and a hunk of rock lands on your foot (or other body part),...
- 201k
5
votes
Fix puncture in Ikea Linmon table
Enlarge your hole to a minimal rectangle with square corners that meets the edge of the desk's frame. Cut a block of wood to match the indicated hole. Glue it to the wood frame (marked in green), and ...
- 193
4
votes
How to improve this table stability?
Just in basic table design you are missing the horizontal supports right under your table top.
The first three horizontal supports are not only too low, too thin, but they are also installed wrong. ...
- 47.8k
4
votes
Accepted
How can I find the centre of a round table?
If you know the radius, use your tape measure from a point on the edge to draw an arc at the radius of the table.
Then choose another point 1/3 of the way round and repeat. Then the other third.
...
- 1,352
4
votes
Is an orbit sander preferable over a belt sander for tabletops?
Because of the different motions, a belt sander could cause a deeper "line" where the edge of the belt hits the wood, since you can only go back and forth with it, certainly not optimal. With an ...
- 560
4
votes
Any reason to get a table/countertop thicker than 1.5"?
Appearance and longevity. You can plane down the 3" one quite a few times, but it seems unlikely you'd be using cleavers on your desk. You might want to weigh the price difference between 6/4 and 7/4 ...
- 3,440
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible