Simple dining table

davidheim1

pine dining table rander.jpg
Saw this table on the 1stdibs web site today. The original was designed in the early 1930s by Axel Einar Hjorth, a Swedish architect and furniture designer. According to the 1stdibs listing, construction was outsourced to local carpenters who specialized in making pine furniture. It's called the Lovo table and is part of a series called Sportstugemobler.
For the model, I mortised the slab legs into the top; the stretcher fits into a slot in the legs, with wedges to hold it fast.
Best,
dh

Dave R

I like it. I can imagine the mortises and tenons cut so legs get inserted at a bit of an angle, the stretcher inserted into the legs and the wedges driven home to lock things up with no glue or hardware.

pbacot

Nice job. Nice picture too. Is that a long wedge being driven down into the stretcher? Might there also be a groove in the leg for it?

davidheim1

Thanks, Dave and pbacot.
Everything's at right angles in the table. I did model a 1/4 in. deep recess in the underside of the top for the legs to fit into; there's a pair of 1 in. deep mortises at the base of the recess. I also cut a 1/4 in. deep dado on each side of the stretcher, which slides into the notch in the leg. The curved ends of the stretcher are also not as tall as the center section, so there's plenty of shoulder for the leg to fit against. The wedge is there to keep everything locked together.
I don't know whether this is a knock-down piece, but it could be something pre-IKEA. However, I'd hate to be the one who has to put it together. The top is nearly 6 ft. long, 2-1/2 ft. wide, and 2 in. thick. A little much to lift single-handed.
Best,
dh

slbaumgartner

@davidheim1 said:

I don't know whether this is a knock-down piece, but it could be something pre-IKEA. However, I'd hate to be the one who has to put it together. The top is nearly 6 ft. long, 2-1/2 ft. wide, and 2 in. thick. A little much to lift single-handed.
Best,
dh

You reminded me of a table I once made. Top was 6 ft long, 46 inches wide, 1 1/2 thick, solid oak. After nearly killing myself manipulating it in the shop, I took a scale up there and discovered that it weighed about 130 lbs!!