We needed a new table, as the old one was getting to small. Especialy due to bad leg placement, it was not relay comortable when you expaned it. So of I go to desinging a table wich can get bigger and has a usable leg placement.

The table in its smallest configuration
The table in its smallest configuration

Table Requirements

The basic requirements for the new table was that the legs should not stay at the same location when extending. So the solution was to build the table in two identical halfs. Attaching the legs directly to these halfs. Now the next problem to solve was how to build the extending sliding mechanism. It needed to be payable and stable enough to span 4m.

The table in its biggest configuration
The table in its biggest configuration

Sliding Mechanism

As I do not have the capability to handle metal in my shop, I need to find a solution which used wood and of the shelf components. In the end the solution was to use fully extendable drawer slider and combine three of them together per side. Unfortunatly this is not stable enough to span the 4m which I wanted. So the final breakthough was to add a fith leg in the middle of the table.

Detail of building the sliding element A finished part of the sliding element The channel where the drawer slider will be placed One of the two sliding elements

Images of the build process

All the wood for the base cut to the correct size Sorting the parts Leg glue up Cutouts for the legs The construction of the tabletop Connection of the two halfs Building the table extensions Test the table with the extensions for the first time

Securing the two halfs together

While building the table I did not desing a solution on how to hold the two halfs of the table together. Now after some time of using the table without this I finally managed to find a good solution on how to hold the two halfs together: ratchet strap.

Place for the table connection The ratchet strap to hold the table sides.