How to fasten chipboard at an angle

[WhingingPom]

I have some left over melamine coated chipboard from a previous project and SWMBO has decided that it'd make a reasonable magazine rack (she likes the look of the attached).

I've managed to replicate this in sketchup, but am a bit stumped as to how to fasten the table top to the "X". One thought was to glue and screw straight up from the "X" into the table top, but is there a better way?

I've got basic tools to work with (pocket hole jig, cordless drill and a dremel drill press holder), so something using these without buying more toys from the big blue/green sheds would be ideal.

Cheers

WP

Modern-Midnight-X-shape-Magazine-Rack-End-Table-d1d8a83e-a4f6-4c62-9b87-e24a2972ff28_600.jpg

[ian]

all connections bar that between teh legs and top look to be right angles so could be done with dowels.

For the top, my guess is the item you like the look of uses knock-down connectors, however for a one-off made at home a pair of butt hinges should work

[Christos]

My guess and it has to be a guess.

When you make the slot for the two pieces to create the X it is held at the X position with two strip under the top so the X does not exceed beyond the top. Not fasten but held in place by gravity pushing against the two strips.

I am also thinking that it may not sustain a largish flower pot on top.

[Master Splinter]

I would actually just use the pocket hole jig for the top. The harder part is the X itself - which I think would best be made by two interlocking slots in the intersection of the X so the / and \ of the X just slide together.

But to make good, accurate slots, you'll need to buy a router....

[ian]

Hi MS

If it were solid wood, I'd also use a halving joint for the X, however, being melamine faced chipboard, I think the better option is three pieces -- one long leg and two just under half the length of the long leg and slightly narrower than the long leg -- aligned and held in position by dowels that go all the way through the long leg. The legs can be edge banded on all 4 edges.
The short legs are narrower on purpose so you are not faced with the difficulty of aligning three front edges.

an alternate method for attaching the top to the X legs is knock-down fittings into an angled block that allows 90° fittings to be used -- though I seem to recall seeing a variable angle or 45° knock-down fitting in a catalogue at some point.

[Master Splinter]

Dowels would work...you'd want to make them reasonably long though so that there would be plenty of chipboard to support them. As the bottom isn't restrained like the top the bottom dowelled X bit would get all the weight trying to rip the dowel out through the face of the board.

[WhingingPom]

Thanks all. I'll give the pocket screw approach a try first and failing that go with butt hinges.

For making the X I was planning to to cut a slot half way through each piece. Originally was going to use a jigsaw but I have a trim router that should do the job and not chips the melamine to buggery.

Cheers

WP

[Christos]

Do feel free to post once it is done and your thoughts. It seems like an interesting piece to make.

[WhingingPom]

Thanks to SWMBO and our toddler being over in Adelaide at the moment, I've had a bit of a busy day. Here's the finished article.

Cheers

WP

[ian]

HI WP

looks ok from here.

would you care to comment on the construction you adopted and any surprises or problems you encountered

[Christos]

It looks ok. What does the boss say on the finish stand.

[WhingingPom]

Sorry for the delayed responses...

HI WP

looks ok from here.

would you care to comment on the construction you adopted and any surprises or problems you encountered

Thanks. Once I actually measured properly, it worked out pretty well. If I was making another one I'd...

Cut one piece of the X then use that as a template to cut the other - don't trust measurements
Use the width of one of the X pieces to measure the "feet"
Rough cut the slots in the X pieces with a jig saw then tidy up with a router. Don't try cutting the whole slot with a router
Other than that it all went pretty smoothly
For fixing the X to the top piece, I ended up going with the pocket screw suggestion

It looks ok. What does the boss say on the finish stand.

She's pretty happy with it as is our toddler - he takes great delight in finding anything that'll fit and "filing" it in the holes.

Cheers

WP

[Treecycle]

For a person who sounds like they have not had a lot of previous experience, the finished article looks like it came out very well. You should be happy with your efforts.

[WhingingPom]

For a person who sounds like they have not had a lot of previous experience, the finished article looks like it came out very well. You should be happy with your efforts.

Thanks. I've only been woodworking for about 18 months or so. I needed a hobby that gets me away from the computer.

So far most of what I've made has been following plans online or from BH&G magazines, so nothing too fancy, just functional things that come in handy.

This was the other thing I made while SWMBO was over in Adelaide (the tower that is, not the toddler)! Next time I feel the need to cover our garage in sawdust, I think I'll be making something for myself! Will possibly have a go at the paulk workbench as I'm currently making do with 4 of Masters' cheapest metal saw horses - not ideal!

Cheers

WP
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