Need Tips for Flush Table Tops

[Bill Wood]

I am building a small coffee table and am looking for ideas to keep the table top flush while I join the pieces together with pocket screws.  The top is a 2x4, 2x6, 2x4 with a 2x4 apron.  Also, how far should I space the pocket screws.  The top is 36-inches long.  Thanks, Bill.

[Ed Ward]

If you are talking about the boards for the top I would just use the same clamps you use to glue up a top. I use what ever looks good to me but 6" or so should work for spacing

[Tom Moores]

I would space the screws 8 - 12 inches apart, work one joint at a time starting at  one end  and work to the other end, clamp the pieces in place lightly, use a hammer or mallet to fine tune the alignment then tighten the clamps and drive the screws, repeat at next screw location, I have also used biscuits to align the parts on very large glue ups

[Jay Boutwell]

Permalink Reply by Jay Boutwell 13 hours agoDelete

Bill, an old trick that I use often when I am gluing something such as an edge band or even adding onto a pre-existing flat piece where I am working upside down and want to be assured that I do not have the pre-existing surface to be higher than what I am adding onto is to use some common cardboard strips that are about 1/32" thick.  You will need a flat surface of which to work off of.

Lay the strips on the pre-existing area so that it raises the surface upward (strips on the face of the table top and the table top is not laying upside down so that the back is facing you,)  It is always best to begin this task with the edges free of glue and place it into position.  Run is a pocket screw of which has given you a location where the pieces will not slip.  Remove the screw and add glue and reattach.  Add the screws until you have added all for this piece and then repeat for each separate piece of added material.  What the paper has done for you is given you a way to insure that the existing piece is not higher than the piece you have added onto.

It is far better to have the added pieces higher that the other main surface as you can work these down using sandpaper and or better yet a cabinet scrapper.  If it was the other way around then you would either have to live with it or sand down the full top to fit the edges.  

The thing you have to watch for here is for the card stock must not come into contact with the  pieces you are adding or it will act in the reverse.  Multiple pieces of news paper will also work.

As for screws I drill about every 5 to 6 inches apart.

[Bill Wood]

Thanks for all the tips.  The coffee table top had one piece that was slight below the apron, about an eight of an inch.  I'll use all the tips when I make the small end tables to match. 

Thanks,  Bill