Draw Leaf Table

[Dave Richards]

I'm wondering what the mechanism is like for a draw leaf table. I did a google search but wasn't successful in finding anything that shows how the leaves are supported when they are pulled out. Any ideas? Pictures? Thanks.

[Don Baer]

Dave,
Here is a link were you can get plans for a draw leaf table. Hope this helps.
http://store.yahoo.com/tylertool/krdldrletapr.html

[Dave Richards]

Thanks Don. I'm not really looking for plans. I just wondered how the mecahnism works to support the leaves when they're out and yet allow the leaves to be pushed underneath the center portion of the top.

[Don Baer]

When I was growing up my mom had a drop leaf table and as I recall it had a pair of rails underneath fastened to the leafs. As I recall when you slid the leafs out and lifted them leel to the table you then slid the leafs back into the table. The rails went into a slot that was on the underside of the table. To lower the leaf you mearly slid the leaf back out and it would drop down so you could store the leaf again. I hope this makes sense.

[Dave Richards]

I think it does, Don. Thanks for that information.

[Steve Schoene]

Another very traditional support for the leaves is a hinged support that just swings out from the rail.

[Michael Ballent]

Another very traditional support for the leaves is a hinged support that just swings out from the rail.

I believe that there is a New Yankee plan that showed that... I know that you are not looking for plans but it could give you some ideas...

[Shelley Bolster]

I just snapped a couple of pics of the table I made 4 or 5 years ago - it was a combination of an antique draw-leaf that I owned and a diagram of one from Bill Hylton's book Illustrated Cabinetmaking.

Below is the table pulled in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2993.jpg


Top removed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2994.jpg


leaves pulled out

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2995.jpg

different view


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2996.jpg


no - the one leaf is not tipped - just one of those "photo things"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2997.jpg

Table full extended

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2998.jpg

I hope those pics are along the lines of what you were looking for Dave, don't hesitate to ask if you think I could help any further. :)

[Dave Richards]

Hey! Shelley! That's great. Exactly what I wanted to see. Thank you very much.

I gather from the pictures that the runners attached to the leaves are essentially ramped to bring the leaves up to the right height when pulled out.

[Shelley Bolster]

You're real welcome Dave. I crawled under the table to take the next couple - certainly not the best in photography but might illustrate the "angle" a little better for you.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_2999.jpg

In the pic below, it appears that the "legs" are lower than the apron - another one of the photo things......you will notice in the above pics you can not see them from a normal standing view.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_3000.jpg


I gather from the pictures that the runners attached to the leaves are essentially ramped to bring the leaves up to the right height when pulled out.
Perfect way of putting it!

[Dave Richards]

Thank you for crawling around taking and taking these additional photos. I hope your neighbors didn't see you. I'd hate to know that there are rumors of "Shelley's gone off the deep end" floating around your neighborhood. :D

One other thing. What is the procedure for retracting the leaves? Do you just push the leaves toward the center or do you have to pull them out a bit first? I can understand how the angle on the rails attached to the leaves causes the leaves to lower but I can't quite understand how they get past the end of the top.

Or do you remove the top, pull out the leaves and reinstall the top?

Thanks.

Dave

[Frank Pellow]

Shelley, that's a really nice table. Well done! Did you make the matching chairs as well?

[Shelley Bolster]

Actually Dave, my husband did give me "a look" when he watched me get up from the PC with camera in hand and proceed to crawl under that table.....but hey, after 32 years he is pretty used to me doing strange things. :p

Pulling out the leaves are really straight forward - the main top stays in place ( there are 2 dowels in the top that fit into oversized holes in the vertical piece of the center I that you see in the second pic.) while you pull the leaves out by a decorative cleat that is attached to the underside. To prevent scratching the tops of the leave with the the "dragging" motion, I glued on some pieces of felt. The action works so great that you do not have to remove anything from the table - you can have a completely "set" table with full water glasses on it and when unexpected guests arrive, you just pull it out to make room without upsetting anything. Retracting the table is almost as simple. You do have to lift the main top up to enough to clear the leave while pushing it with your leg.....once started, the leaves just slide on under the main top and stops in the correct place due to the I .

I don't want to lead you to believe that it is a simple design to make - I went through a few "legs" or "runners" before I finally got it right - a lot of variables to concider........I tried using the ones from my antique set as a template but because I was changing the overall size of the table, they would not work. My advice would be to start out with some scrap and "whittle" them down until they work and be prepared for a lot of frustration! ;) But hey, once you start using it, the pain will disappear and you will never regret building it! :D

Below is a pic I just took to try to illustrate the leave coming out....the main top does raise up slightly and does drop down as the leave is full extended .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_3002.jpg

[Shelley Bolster]

Thanks Frank.....yup, the six captains chairs you see in the pic as well at two other armless. I bought my Delta mortiser for that job.:D I built a press of sorts for the bent lamination that I used to create the curved backs...but that is a whole other story! ;) Personally I found the hardest part of building chairs is the designing and making of the prototypes, jigs and templates to achieve the design......then it is pretty straight forward and really not that difficult. (hey - I can say that now, that was almost 5 years ago so.....:rolleyes: :p )

[Dennis Peacock]

Thanks Frank.....yup, the six captains chairs you see in the pic as well at two other armless. I bought my Delta mortiser for that job.:D I built a press of sorts for the bent lamination that I used to create the curved backs...but that is a whole other story! ;)

OK Shelley.....

I had to idea that you made chairs. :eek: Now I know EXACTLY who I'm gonna be hollerin' at when I start the LOML's kitchen chairs. ;) :D

[Dave Richards]

Shelley, thanks for that last shot and description. I still want a bit of clarification.

Does the top rest on the leaves (and the central I) when the leaves are retracted?

Do you have to support the top to keep it from dropping suddenly as the leaf is pulled out from under it?


With the leaves out, is it possible to tilt the top inadvertently by leaning on a corner?

Sorry to keep asking more questions. If I knew where I could find one, I'd go play with it.

Thanks.

[Shelley Bolster]

Well......running the risk of overloading SMC with pictures, I took one more for you..........this should show the "floating" main table top (with the red felt) resting on the "legs or runners" of the leaf when it is pulled right out.......I warn you, this is why it is a bit of a engineering feat.....the variables I spoke of.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/shelleybolster/103_3003.jpg




Do you have to support the top to keep it from dropping suddenly as the leaf is pulled out from under it?
Yes - you do have to support it a bit or.......just let it drop.


With the leaves out, is it possible to tilt the top inadvertently by leaning on a corner?

I guess you could tilt it if you were really big and leaned hard on it - I have some pretty big guys on it - even had arm wrestling going on, and nothing like that has happened.


Sorry to keep asking more questions. If I knew where I could find one, I'd go play with it.

Hey Dave, don't be sorry........I only hope I am helping a bit and not confusing you more. I agree with you - if at all possible, you should seek out a drawleaf to examine.

[Dave Richards]

Shelley, that has cleared it all up. Thank you very much. I almost have a completed 3D drawing of the whole works now.

Thanks for your help. :cool:

[Shelley Bolster]

I am happy to have helped a bit Dave - one last thing though. To anyone that wants to use felt - do not use RED........or any color for that matter. That was all my daughter could find and I thought nothing of it as it was not to be seen however, something must have gotten spilled on the table and dripped under it - got on the red felt which in turn stained a small part of the leaf red......white is the way to go!!! ;)

[Richard Killian]

Hi There,

I'm about to embark on building one of these table and I had just one question regarding the
pull leaves and the 2 arms on each side.
I can see how the leaf sits on top of the arm but how is the remainder of the arm that slides in and out contoured?
Is there any tapering going on and how is the leaf prevented from coming out any further?

One more thing, what are the dimensions of the legs, if you dont mind?

Many thanks

Richard