Steps And Items Needed To Shorten Table Legs
Even if you are trying to convert a bar-height table to the standard size or you are looking to create a low-profile piece of your furniture then you can shorten your existing table by simply cutting part of the legs off. This trick is to measure accurately before cutting & to start by taking off less than you need to, after all, you can easily shorten your table, but it is sometimes difficult to add height to the table legs. If you want to shorten table legs then you need to collect all the required items and follow the steps afterward:
Things Needed For This Process
- Measuring Tape
- Pencil And Paper
- Screwdriver Or Drill With Screwdriver Bits
- Table Saw, Handsaw And Miter Box (Optional)
- Sandpaper & Rags
Steps For This Process
- First of all, you need to measure the table from the base of the leg to the surface & note the height. Measuring your entire table, instead, then just the legs, will allow you to determine categorically that how much you need to cut off to achieve the table height you want. If you want to only measure your table legs, you may also have a table that is taller than you planned because of the thickness of your tabletop.
- The next thing to do is to regulate how tall will you want your table to be & subtract this number from the taken measurement because this step will give you the amount you will cut off your table legs. If you do not have a definitive size in your mind then the standard table heights for furniture are consistently 30 inches for the dining tables, while bar-height tables are normally 42" inches high. So you will have to remove near about 12 inches from a bar-height table in order to make a standard dining table or even more if you are looking for a low profile, Asian or Middle Eastern type of stylish furniture. Keep in your mind that you always want to have 18" inches betwixt the seat of your chair and the bottom of your table for comfort.
- Now you need to remove your table legs from your tabletop with the help of a screwdriver or a drill machine with a screwdriver bit. Most of the table legs are secured to your table with the basic brackets. Place your hardware somewhere safe & measure from the bottom of your table leg up, also marking the points where you have to cut to shorten it which is based on your previous calculations. Repeat this step with each table leg.
- Cut the leg, according to the markings, with your table saw. If you don't have the table saw then you can also use a miter box & hand saw in order to make the cut, however, this will presumably require more effort depending on the thickness & density of your table leg. Repeat this step with the leftover table legs until all of them are shortened properly.
- Now you need to sand each leg on your cut to remove any splinters, and then you need to wipe it clean with your damp cloth.
- Finally, you need to reattach all the legs to your table, and then flip your table right side up and then you need to use a level to check your work. If you measure it properly, you should not have to make any further adjustments.