Building tables is not everyone's favorite project, but with the vast array of bolt-on legs, table making has reached a whole new level of accessibility. For me, this is the first time I am using some steel "hairpin" legs and yes, there is a bit of a learning curve to these.
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Before I get too far ahead of myself, I need to create the table top because I need something for the legs to attach to. A bistro table is a perfect starter and the one am making will be a "knock down" version, which means I can take it apart for easy storage during the winter months when I would not get use and would be subjected to harsh winter weather.
For the top, I have selected a round slab, sometimes called a wooden cookie (at least a large wooden cookie). I purchased mine about 10 years ago at an from and old lean-to shed at an estate sale. When I dragged it out and checked the moisture level, I was surprised it was only 10%, lower than I expected and perfect for my project.
Once I got it into the shop, I could see it needed some flattening and leveling off despite the fact someone had done a pretty good job with the chain saw, it still needed work. I set up my router leveling jig I made many years ago and called it Planer Jig, which worked well for what I needed and used this 2" router bit.
Eventually I managed to clean off both to and bottom and to my delight, I found the wood to be Fir, not Red Cedar as I had suspected. Dry Fir is a very hard wood when it is dry, much harder than Cedar, and would be perfect for my table. After planing flat then sanding and filling all the tiny imperfections on the top with wood colored cyanoacrylate (super) glue, I coated the top with a product new to me, and Osmo Decking product for exterior use. I wanted something waterproof but BREATHABLE. I know that many people would select a Glossy, Polyurethane coating but I have seen too many mistakes made with this coating which is great on very dry wood, but if there is any chance of moisture in wood, that moisture wicks upward and collects under the plastic polyurethane coating where it cannot escape, and leaves a misty cloudy affect that never goes away. The only way to get rid of it, is to remove the polyurethane (which is a film) by scraping and sanding back down to bare wood, not something most of us are keen for. Which is why I went for a breathable, yet water resistant coating. The nice part with the Osmo, you never need to remove it, just give it a light sanding and re-coat over top the old finish and presto, you have a new coating.
Now comes the whole key to this project ... the legs. I found some nice Hairpin Legs 28 inches high, perfect for this kind of a build.
I selected these legs because of the positioning of the screw holes, I did NOT want to use screws, but wanted to used BOLTS instead and would require some special Threaded Inserts I purchased a while back from a local dealer, they are German Made, Rampa brand, 8mm (metric) but these have 6 lines of thread, rather than 3 like most inserts available a local hardware stores. More threads means a much stronger fit.
I knew the holes in the legs would need to be drilled larger to accommodate the larger bolts and that is why I picked these legs, because I could enlarge the holes without compromising the strength for leg.
After drilling the holes for the inserts, I wrapped the inside of the hole in the wood, with some carpenters glue and allowed it to almost harden before driving the threaded inserts in. This will make the inserts super strong and able to stand up to the bolts being installed and removed periodically for storage then re-set up for use.
And there is my table ... complete and ready to use. I should look great on the patio ... 
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