How to Build a Leaf for a Dining Room Table

Extendable dinning room tables are both convenient and versatile. But when one or more of the extendable leafs are damaged or lost, the benefits of both convenience and versatility are greatly diminished. When replacing or repairing any part of an existing piece of hardwood furniture, there are three main elements to consider: the wood species, the coloring, and the age.

Things You'll Need

• Matching solid lumber plank or hardwood veneer
• Solid wood edging (for veneer leaf only)
• Replacement alignment dowels
• Color matched stain
• Lacquer with matching sheen
• Clean rags and wide brushes
• Wood glue
• Table saw
• Orbital sander
• Jointer; a table saw with a fine cut blade can substitute (for solid wood leaf only)
• Plainer; a belt sander can be used as substitute (for solid wood leaf only)
• Bar clamps (for solid wood leaf only)
• Belt sander (for solid wood leaf only)

Instructions

1. Establish whether the table and its leaves are solid or veneer. Determine the wood species and stain pigment. If you are uncertain about the species, take one of the remaining leafs to your local hardware, lumber, or cabinetry shop. Take your sample to a paint store and ask one of their seasoned associates to help you find an existing stain or create a custom color match. Select a high quality lacquer with sheen to match the sample.

2. If the leaf is solid wood, purchase enough lumber, in the determined species, to glue up a plank two inches larger than the leaf to be replaced. Run all glue joint surfaces through a jointer. Glue the plank together using bar clamps. Surface plane the replacement leaf to a thickness equaling that of the original.

3. For solid hardwood, cut the replacement to the exact width and length of the original. Profile the edge to match. If the leaf is veneer, cut the matching veneer to the exact width. Cut the length short enough to allow for the hardwood edging and attach the edge profile.

4. Drill a series of holes in the lengthways edge to accommodate the original alignment dowels. Glue and insert the replacement alignment dowels along one of the lengthways edges.

5. Sand all of the surfaces to at least a 300 grit smoothness. If the original shows signs of ware, distress the replacement to match. Remove any dust.

6. If the original finish appears to have brush striations, apply the stain and lacquer with an old, clean bush. If there are no striations, Wipe the stain on and apply the clear coat with a new brush, or aerosol can.