Building a table... but Oval!?

[Kai]

Hi guys, after building (semi-succesfully) my dining room table. My girlfriends parents liked it enough that they want one!

Their idea is that they'll buy the glass and i'll 'knock up' a frame/base.

I'll definitely up for the challenge, the rub is that, they want the table to be oval and it'll be pretty big (possibly sitting 10 people!)

I didn't know where to put this thread so thought i'd stick it here. Has anyone got any ideas on how to go about it? Bearing in mind i've only ever welded stock steel with little forming before hand and i have limited tools.

I'm open to any and all suggestions/help! Thanks very much.

 

[rtbcomp]

I've moved this to "Projects - Furniture & Gym."

 

[julianthegypsy]

If you're making a base, it doesn't really matter if the table is oval does it? The glass will just sit on top so as long as its adequately supported underneath, no?

 

[Kai]

rbcomp - Thanks! I wasn't sure if projects was a place for showing off completed stuff. Cheers!

 

[Kai]

If you're making a base, it doesn't really matter if the table is oval does it? The glass will just sit on top so as long as its adequately supported underneath, no?

Yeah this is exactly the kind of suggestions i'm looking for.

My concern is, say i make a base out of straight stock, is it gonna look daft with a curved top? Am i better looking into bending stuff? And if so, how? Is it easier to bend flat stock to the shape of the table etc?

Thanks for your reply, what do you think?

 

[julianthegypsy]

I would have thought a rectangular frame, but don't forget, the top would normally sit on the ends of vertical bars with rubber caps. Have to run now, will add more later!

 

[Kai]

I would have thought a rectangular frame, but don't forget, the top would normally sit on the ends of vertical bars with rubber caps. Have to run now, will add more later!

Yeah, that's similar to what i have done before with a rectangular table design. Thanks!

 

[rosinante]

Oval table

Hi,iirc there is a guide for the ratio of top to base sizes = 5/9 in other words the base should be no smaller than 5 ninths of the top , applys in both length and width, no more than 2 ninths each side/end overhang to prevent tipping.
HTH
Chris

 

[Kai]

Hi,iirc there is a guide for the ratio of top to base sizes = 5/9 in other words the base should be no smaller than 5 ninths of the top , applys in both length and width, no more than 2 ninths each side/end overhang to prevent tipping.
HTH
Chris

That's great, thanks Chris, definitely helpful!

 

[octo0072000]

price up the glass first 18mm laminated plate or toughened that size £300/500

lot's of money toughened would be best like car window glass breaks into little pieces

 

[Kai]

Yeah i've asked one place for a quote already, waiting on them getting back to me. Thing is i asked for the quote to be 10mm toughened clear. Do you think that would be too thin?

Also, any ideas about the frame/base design? Simply sit the glass on top of points? Run a rim round the edge?

 

[octo0072000]

thing is you will want ground or beveled edges that puts the price up
main problem is frame must sit level with pads on top you don't want any twist in the glass also with a big table anyone catching the edge of it with a dish plate knife is enough to chip it you have seen enough windscreen adverts for chips that develop in to cracks also depends on what the floor is it's sitting on i would want at least 6 legs on it glass does bend over that length

 

[KemppiFrog]

Run a rim round the edge?

That will be a nightmare to get it fitting right. And look a bit 'odd'.

For a table the size you are talking about, it would relatively easy to bend some 30x8 to an oval and weld the legs to it with some bracing (lower cross between the legs) Lack of tools needs invention... Drill a couple of holes in a concrete hardstanding and put pins in. Then use them to bend the stock. Bit of hammer work on a hard surface to flatten out the ups and downs.
The glass is the bummer.. 10mm toughened would be OK, but 12mm better. Not cheap.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I'd have said use six vertical tubes in a slightly squashed hex arrangement, braced top and bottom, or even seven, with one in the middle, so you have your rectangle with an extra one at the ends of the oval and the one in the middle to stop any sag.

 

[Angusdog]

Design-wise, could you have the top supported by radial arms coming off the base? So like the spokes of a wheel, but of appropriate length. That way you don't end up with a square supporting an oval which would in my opinion look a little daft. I'd also measure other round tables that sit 10 people, otherwise you might tend to build it too big. Circular tables can seat more people than square.

 

[Kai]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm hoping that the glass will be something they'll get and then i build the frame after seeing it/measuring it. That's a really good point about oval/circular tables sitting more people. I had sized the glass in my head but based on a rectangular table. Hopefully, oval would be a bit smaller.

I like both your suggestions, Angus dog and Juilanthegypsy.

Angusdog, do you mean a single heavy column/plinth in the middle with spokes coming out? Or a similar frame to what Juilianthegypsy suggests, but with the glass resting on spokes coming off the frame, rather than the ends of the tubes?

Also, does anyone know where i can get 'discs' to mount the glass on? I can't seem to find a picture of an example, but i've seen glass tables before, where the glass sits on a nicely machined steel/aluminium disc at each point of contact.

Thanks for all your replies.

 

[Kai]

That will be a nightmare to get it fitting right. And look a bit 'odd'.

For a table the size you are talking about, it would relatively easy to bend some 30x8 to an oval and weld the legs to it with some bracing (lower cross between the legs) Lack of tools needs invention... Drill a couple of holes in a concrete hardstanding and put pins in. Then use them to bend the stock. Bit of hammer work on a hard surface to flatten out the ups and downs.
The glass is the bummer.. 10mm toughened would be OK, but 12mm better. Not cheap.

Would the 30x8 bend ok? Or is it likely to 'kink'? I've never bent stock steel before. Would i have to heat it first with a torch or anything?

Say i made a wooden former, the same shape as the glass, would it be possible to find it against that and maybe tack brackets on as i go to hod it?

 

[KemppiFrog]

I was thinking of edge bending. But some time a go I owned a wooden topped round table with a steel base. One could bend the 8x30mm into a hoop, round or oval to choice. (this bending flat, the easy way) Then bend some more semicircles of similar or bigger (8x40mm) as the legs. These would be welded to the top ring, curving to the middle, were a smaller ring would join them, then out again with some feet. Standard height for a table is 30" or 76cm.
I will put up a sketch a bit later.
KF

For the glass, weld some small discs onto the top ring and use those self adhesive clear plastic 'buttons' available from hardware stores.

The table was around 5ft diameter and I think we got more than 10 round it, with our elbows tucked in....

Rather than a sketch, here is something similar, but smaller. I made a whole bunch of stuff for a bar. Everthing in the pic made of metal is out of my w/shop

The ring at the bottom to tie the legs together would be better at the half height for a dining table.

As for bending.. a series of little bends in the vice will pass for a continuous curve. Or pulled round a convenient curved shape.

 

[Kai]

I was thinking of edge bending. But some time a go I owned a wooden topped round table with a steel base. One could bend the 8x30mm into a hoop, round or oval to choice. (this bending flat, the easy way) Then bend some more semicircles of similar or bigger (8x40mm) as the legs. These would be welded to the top ring, curving to the middle, were a smaller ring would join them, then out again with some feet. Standard height for a table is 30" or 76cm.
I will put up a sketch a bit later.
KF

For the glass, weld some small discs onto the top ring and use those self adhesive clear plastic 'buttons' available from hardware stores.

The table was around 5ft diameter and I think we got more than 10 round it, with our elbows tucked in....

Rather than a sketch, here is something similar, but smaller. I made a whole bunch of stuff for a bar. Everthing in the pic made of metal is out of my w/shop

The ring at the bottom to tie the legs together would be better at the half height for a dining table.

As for bending.. a series of little bends in the vice will pass for a continuous curve. Or pulled round a convenient curved shape.

That looks like a great idea for the base.

I'm not sure i understand your first point, what do you mean by "bending flat"? I'm assuming when you say edge bending, you mean pushing the strip against a curved surface, such as a former. Could you explain why the flat bending would be easier?

Thanks for the great reply btw, it's really starting to take shape in my head!

 

[KemppiFrog]

Think of a plastic rule. Easy to bend one way, the flat way, but very difficult to bend the other way. Edge bending is the difficult way. 8x30 can be edge bent without too much muscle. Just needs some sort of stiff former.
The table in the pic is all 'flat bent', so much easier. I did the first one by hand, tweeking it round in the vice. IIRR it was 6x30mm, there are bigger ones in the pic to the right but not easy to see. It is a scanned old photo, not digital. The bigger ones are thicker. Once they liked the idea, I modded my DIY ring roller to churn them out. 40 odd plus the little stools 16?, and all the chairs.

The tables do have glass in the top, it is inset. There is an MDF decorated 'disc' under the glass which helps to keep the circle fair and not pressure the edge of the glass. Worked out fine.
KF
Having a hard steel edge to a dining table would be dreadful, apart from the bits that would get trapped in the gap.... So, an overlap of 20cm by the glass over the ring frame sounds about right.