Furniture Rehab: Plights of the Round Table
The owners of this walnut dining table planned to stain and topcoat it themselves. First, however, they called us for some badly needed repairs. The table was missing one of its original tapered legs, and the top was in two pieces. Complicating the repair was the fact the two top pieces had been in storage for a time. They were in rough shape, and both pieces had some chipped edges and fairly deep scratches.
We used plywood to create a rig to clamp the large (60-inch) round table together. Using long bar clamps, a lot of glue and some wood shims, we pulled the two sides back together. A major sanding job a bit of wood filler, made from the sanding dust to match in color and tone, would complete the top repairs.
Now it was time to make a replacement leg. Using a surviving member, we made a template to use with the lathe. We turned the piece to exacting specifications and hand-chiseled pockets in the corners to accept mortises from the the table stretchers. After more gluing and clamping, we had the base back together with four matching legs.
To complete the table rehabilitation, we sanded down the original legs and frame assembly and reattached the top. The final result is a rock-solid dining table of raw walnut, ready for our clients to stain and finish any way they wish. With a new lease on life, this old table has a beautiful future!
