Ideas for attaching a tabletop

[Bob Johnson2]

This coffee table has a 1 peice walnut top 1" thick so it's going to move some. I've been mulling over using a dowel in the center and putting elongated holes in the 4 support arms then screwing it together, or using a handfull of table top fasteners, the sort of Z shaped peices that you screw to the top and slide into a slot in the supports. This is my first such job and would appreciate your ideas if you've had to do similiar in the past.

[Doug Shepard]

Normally I like to use the Z type clips but with no apron on your table I think they'd be way too visible and ugly. I think I'd go for the elongated holes through the arms. I just noticed these LV bits the other day which look pretty promising for a nice clean slotted hole.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=52607&cat=1,46168,46171&ap=1

[Duan Packard]

Beautiful job

You might consider the figure 8 type of fastner.
If you use them near the center (no more than half way out) they
won't show much.

Duan

[Dave Kettler]

rockler has a figure 8 bracket. Use a forsner bit to drill into wood the thickness of the bracket ( 1/8th ) and install with screws. If you want that look ?? Goto rocklerr.com and search for desktop fasteners. The hyperlink will not work sorry. Anyways good luck in your chioice.

[Bob Johnson2]

Do the figure 8's give enough for seasonal wood movement.

[glenn bradley]

What Doug said.

[Jeff Heil]

Have you considered a sliding dovetail in the direction the table will expand across the grain? Friction fit with a little wax. Lots of room to move and makes disasembly to mover the table easier too.