furnituretablewoodworking
I just finished my first wood project and it's a farmhouse table. I am going to be bringing this to college and I need a way to make the top removable from the base so it wont be so challenging to transport. I don't think anything involving screws will be a great idea because eventually the screw holes will get warped. What are some of your ideas to make this baby detachable??
User is right saying you should cut the rough shape with a band saw. If you don't have one, you can use a jig saw but use the most rigid blade that will follow the form. The next step will be to use a table mounted rotary sander/ drum sander to work the piece to the scribed line. It will be next to impossible to make a well shaped piece without this step. Check out a few episodes of "New Yankee Workshop" online (PBS) to see the techniques. Keeping a full length of grain top to bottom is extremely important,(as mentioned) otherwise the piece will split in time. Good luck with your project.
You took the wind out of my sails with that last paragraph. I was going to suggest using a nut/bolt.
As far as it causing problems when the tabletop is lowered, you can recess the bolt head. Yeah, you could make the cavity in which the bolt will stay on the underside of the tabletop, but maybe you'll drill too far or crack/scratch the tabletop if you chisel it out. It could end badly... which is why you should instead house the bolt head on the top-side of the cross member.
Brown = table top
Black = underlying cross member
The one on the left is what you were talking about. The one on the right is what you want to do.
Also, use a washer under the bolt head, etc.
Best Answer
Maybe this kind of fitting:
Each block is permanently screwed to either the top or the base. You connect the parts using a supplied machine screw (not a wood screw).