table top restore and supports

[steven12]

Hi,

I have an old table top to restore. I don't know what type of timber it is and it looks like a vaneer, but has nice grain through the top. How much sanding should I do and what should I finish it with?

More importantly, it is missing supports - so what type of supports/legs would have gone under this table? See photo with 3 brackets at each end (one is misssing). And where would I find them?

Thanks in advance!

[dr4g0nfly]

Your table appears to be a 'put away'. The sort of thing used at shows or outdoor events.

The cleats underneath show where the legs would have been connected when it was needed. Likely to have been of tubular metal construction. To that end if you want to make it into something, simple is best.

Likewise the top is probably a good quality clean 'unsorted' softwood and the finish was likely to have been simple at best. So to clean it I'd start with wire wool and a solvent like Meth's and see how it looked then. I note a big burn ring on it - unlikely you'll remove that without a lot of wood removed but then you'd also loose the history of the piece.

As for a finish, oil for outside and oil or wax for inside - depends upon what you want to do with it in the future.

[steven12]

Great - thanks for the information.

I think I'll keep to the put away theme... what do you think about some trestle table supports or A frame type? I really want to keep a vintage rustic look to it and timber seems better than metal for legs/supports.

I have given the top a good sand by hand and will now out the stool wool/metho over it, then probalby a bit more sanding before waxing. Sound ok?

[_fly_]

I'm not so sure its an A frame support, Think its more of an X. The blocks at the top are to far apart. Unless its a very wide saw horse. Can't get a good idea of scale except for the lighter stripe accross the centre.

[rhancock]

I think it looks more like a four legged table with a rail all the way around, and a central rail across the middle where the lighter bar is. I also don't think it has to be a knock down table, as buttons are a pretty standard fitting on any table where timber movement across the top is an issue.

[steven12]

Thanks all. Can anyone recommend anyone in Melbourne to knock up a frame and legs in recycled matching timber?