Bespoke Dining Table - VI - Constructing a Robust Table Base

This is a short series following the creation of a bespoke dining table all the way through the making process, from selecting the timber to delivery to the client.

This is one of my favourite stages of any bespoke creation. Until now, the design has existed as sketches on paper and sterile 3D renders - then as a collection of unconnected components waiting to be joined together and given meaning. It's also one of the most stressful stages: the care and skill invested in each part builds throughout the process, and one wrong step here can mean remaking parts or fixing real damage.

Once fully shaped, each pedestal needed levelling so it sits stably on the floor and fully supports the tabletop once in place. My low-angle jack plane doesn't see much use, but it's ideal here - the low angle of attack gives a perfect finish on end grain oak. Chamfering the edges first, and skewing the blade, protects against tearout at the corners.

The under-frame is a simple H shape, but the strength of the connections is vital. At nearly 3m long, the tabletop needs full support without flexing, and the pedestals need to be held tight to prevent the frame racking. I used one of the strongest joints available - a shouldered cross-halving joint. A simple halving joint substantially weakens each component and can look unsightly if not cut perfectly; it also offers no resistance to twisting. The shouldered, housed version increases joint strength many times over.