8'x8' oak table

[Matt Day]

My first thought is essentially making 2 tables that push together to make one. Use some knock down furniture type fasteners to join them together.

[Richard Coers]

Don't listen to the naysayers. Jobs like this get done everyday. They just tend to require a little more consideration and planning. Oh, and maybe some bigger clamps.

How many big conference tables have you built Johnny? The largest I've done was 4'x12'. I had two employees at the time, and it was a major task just to turn the torsion box structure over. It was 2 sheets of 4x12 MDF with a structure between.

[Jacob Reverb]

Think about it though. How many doors can you get an 8' x 8' table through?

Hey, as long as I'm not the guy holding the top part up. Don't pinch yer fingers against the ceiling!

[johnny means]

How many big conference tables have you built Johnny? The largest I've done was 4'x12'. I had two employees at the time, and it was a major task just to turn the torsion box structure over. It was 2 sheets of 4x12 MDF with a structure between.

Dozens. Hell, I've got dozens on my work schedule right now. We consider a 4x12 to be on the smallish side. I'm planning out how to execute a 8'x24' right now. We're planning on a three piece design.

[Nick Lazz]

Hey Kent, One of the guys in our local made 4 or 5 tables for our fire stations out of glue lam beams. Although the dimensions aren't the same for what you are talking about, I could see glueing up 2-3 with some tennons to reach the width you are looking for. He also inlayed the top of each table. We've used them for years and they will be here long after I retire.
Just an idea.. Good luck. I would really like to see the finished product.

26yrs IAFF 452

[Tom Bender]

Hey Jonny
You clearly are the expert here. How about expansion, does it make sense to try this with solid stock?

[Don Stephan]

Before addressing the other issues, how flat and straight are the 4/4 boards? How much thickness will remain after milling the boards flat and straight?

[johnny means]

Hey Jonny
You clearly are the expert here. How about expansion, does it make sense to try this with solid stock?

Allow for expansion in your connections and it won't be an issue. I think the inch allotment mentioned earlier should be plenty for an eight foot wide panel in a climate controlled environment. Though I doubt that much expansion/contraction is likely.

[Jacob Reverb]

I'm surprised to hear these gigantic conference tables are made from solid stock. I would have expected them to be made from plywood, with some solid on the edges.

[Jim Becker]

I'm surprised to hear these gigantic conference tables are made from solid stock. I would have expected them to be made from plywood, with some solid on the edges.

Aside from natural edge type conference tables I've seen, the majority of such large surfaces are veneered manufactured sheet goods with solid edging as you state. But even those are sectional above a certain size for practicality...'have to be able to actually get them in the hallways and through doors into a room and up freight elevators, etc.

[Brian W Evans]

From an aesthetic point of view, I don't think 4/4 stock is going to look very good at that size - the bigger the table, the thinner it will appear. Putting some thick edging around it might be necessary to get it to look "right". Are you up for two 8' breadboard ends?

My vote would be two full sheets of ply with solid wood edging, pulled tight with the hardware mentioned above. You could still rout your design and fill with epoxy.

[Andy D Jones]

What about a square donut with 2- 3' x 8' sides and 2 3' x 2' sides all connected with countertop connectors or even pocket screws underneath . Then a nice 12" x 12" inset center carving or other decorative insert. Just my $.02

I did not read David Basset's post. Same concept. You can have form follow function with the size of the center insert.

The inset would actually be 2' x 2'.

Or, similar to Basset's suggestion, make four 3' x 5' tables, and "assemble" them together in a square ring, "head to hip", for an 8'x8' table with a 2'x2' hole. That way the tables are all identical, transportable, and useful either on their own or in various other assemblies. Fill in the 2x2 hole if/as desired.

Any combination where the sum of the width and length for each table is 8' would work. You can vary the size of the "hole" by varying their width (along with the corresponding length).

Andy - Arlington TX

[Tom Bender]

Milling the stock till it lays flat is going to cost you too much wood. Some unevenness can be dealt with in the layout and joinery. It is a test of your skill and experienceto know how much and how.

[John Goodin]

A lot of functionality will be lost going from 48 lineal feet of table edge to 32 if it is going to be used as a seated gathering space. Building something that can be two smaller tables or one large one would be very versatile.