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NY Good Questions: How Should I Attach This Tabletop?

2.7table.jpgHello AT,

I recently bought this table for my kitchen, and discovered the tabletop was attached to the metal base only with double sided tape.

It's REALLY heavy and if someone would lean on it hard enough to tip the thing, it just might break some toes.

There are holes (warped) in the underside of the table that correspond to holes in the metal base, so clearly it was attached at one point without cracking or damaging the top...

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)

2.7tabletop.jpg

I'd have to make new holes to secure it properly and hope some ATers may have suggestions on what type of screw, dowel, etc. would be best for the task.

The underside of the tabletop says it was made by Dimentional Plastics Corp. (though the seller described the material as fiberglass) and it's dated 1962.

Thanks! Jo

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tabletop & servingware, Good Questions

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Comments (15)

I have 2 similar tables with marble tops...that do not attach to their cast iron bases. Yep, it'll fall on my toes one day.

:::shudder:::

posted by I Love Upstate on 2008-02-07 10:46:42
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I don't know, but if you have a good hardware store around, they might be able to help. If it were me, I'd probably see if I had any of the pointed kind of screws and see if any of them fit. Since the holes are already there, I wouldn't except you to have any problems with cracking.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on 2008-02-07 10:56:25
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why not trying to superglue some lugs in the holes. refill them i guess, then use corresponding screws with the lugs.
use some epoxy to adhere them in there.

dont let it fall on yr toes!

posted by andrasklang on 2008-02-07 11:08:52
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You could try to do a couple of things:

1. you could try to find some type of fiberglass/polymer filler to fill the cracks, which would allow new screws to catch in the old holes; or

2. you could attach a piece of scrap wood to the metal base (this would be bigger than the size of the base) and drill new holes into the table top and attach the scrap wood to the table top. It's not pretty, but it should hold.

posted by Greige on 2008-02-07 11:14:05
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try Might Putty! From the infomercial with Billy Mays... this is the perfect thing to use it for! Seriously.

I get mesmerized by that infomercial, and then I realize I don't really need it... but you do!

posted by misskellyg on 2008-02-07 11:16:17
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i have the same table and it is attached with a piece of plywood- you can only see it from underneather the table.

posted by kristian on 2008-02-07 11:28:58
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As greige mentions, screw a much smaller plywood round to the base.

Attach your top to the plywood with construction adhesive.

It might not be "archival" but it would work.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-02-07 11:42:43
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I found a "Marine" putty at Wal-Mart (about $3. I think) that seems identical to "Mighty Putty." It really helped with some impossible projects at my house. I'm not sure about using it to attach the two pieces together but as a filler -- it hardens rock hard in 2 minutes (or less -- work fast!!!). Love the table top by the way.

posted by peardown on 2008-02-07 12:08:45
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The answer is wood screws... of course no longer than the width of the table. Guessing a 7,8, or 9 thick x 5/8" or 1/2". The screw should fit snug in the previous holes. Wood screws were most likely used previous to the double face table-- which was used because the people had no wood screws or were to lazy to get any.

posted by Steve02 on 2008-02-07 12:09:35
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If there is enough surface for glue, a filling caulk can work well for this. Silicone is too weak, but polyurethane should do fine.

posted by Jute Zak on 2008-02-07 12:42:41
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Yes - attach a piece of plywood. Everyone who said that is totally right.

posted by ARC on 2008-02-07 13:23:45
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Attaching the table to the base with glue sounds like a bad idea, especially if you ever need to move it later or want to replace the base or top.

The ide of using a smaller plywood base certainly will work and be quite simple.

If the existing holes actually line up with holes in the base, you can probably stll use them. If the material is stripped, first screw in a machine screw insert into the table top. I suspect an insert of this sort was there before, but someone just ripped the top off. Even better, would be to clean up the holes, and push the screw inserts into a two part epoxy filler (you can find the eposy at any good hardware store -- read the instructions and use carefully). You can find inserts in the specialty screw bins at HD or Lowes, or here http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?sku=362&cs=1

posted by lightenup on 2008-02-07 15:00:23
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I had the same problem with a marble top. Do the plywood thing. Just cut a round piece (a few inches smaller than the table top) and attach to the table top (glue) than screw it into that, just buys screws smaller than the width of the plywood, you want a round piece to evenly distribute the weight. But try the epoxy thing first to see if it works if it does not try this.

posted by slyvester on 2008-02-07 23:39:59
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That appears to be an authentic Eames table base. I'm not sure about the table top but that's not really important. However, I don't think that that particular base is supposed to be on a table top of such generous porportion. If I'm not mistaken, that base is the "contarct base" and is not for table tops larger than 36 inches in diameter. A top of that porportion should be on the "universal base." I would contact Herman Miller and see if they have any suggestions for attaching it (if indeed it should go with that base). Hope this helps.

posted by orangejuce on 2008-02-08 10:45:05
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Spelling Correction: "contract base."

posted by orangejuce on 2008-02-08 10:52:01
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