How to Make Dining Room Table Leaves

Making dining room table leaves is an easy task. If you are replacing a leaf, you can start from step 1 below. If you are modifying your current dining room table to accept a leaf, you will have to cut it in half with a circular saw and add wooden pegs to the table top.

Step 1—Take Measurements

Before you can get the proper lumber for your leaf, you have to take the measurements of the table. Open the table and measure the thickness of the table top. You also need to measure the width of the table. These two measurements are very important. In order to create a leaf that fits seamlessly with the table, you have to match the measurements of the lumber exactly.

Step 2—Select the Wood

The obvious lumber choice is going to be the exact same type of wood that your table is made out of.  However, that may not be feasible. If your table is made of an expensive exotic wood, you may not have the budget to buy a solid board. In some cases, though, you may not even know what type of wood the table is made of. 

Do your best to match the wood type. However, if you can’t match it exactly, choose something with a similar pattern and color.   

Step 3—Drill Holes

Now that you have the leaf measured properly, you are going to drill holes into the sides to latch onto the wood pegs that are sticking out of the table. You will need to measure the diameter of the wood pegs to know the proper drill bit to use. 

You also need to measure the length of the wood peg sticking out of the table. You will need to drill into the leaf at least as far as the length of the peg. You will do this on both sides of the leaf.

Since the holes are not parallel on both sides of the table, you should make sure to mark the leaf at the exact location of the peg. This way you know exactly where to drill the hole.

Step 4—Install the Leaf

You can now open the table and insert the leaf. You will need to align one side with the wooden pegs sticking from the table and then slide the other side into the leaf. Push forcefully from both sides to make sure that the pegs are secure. 

There will be some sort of latch underneath the table. With the leaf firmly in place, close the latch, securing the three parts of the table. 

Step 5—Finish the Table

Even an unfinished table is not going to match a new piece of lumber. Therefore, you are going to have to finish the table and the leaf together. Doing it this way will ensure that the pieces create a seamless table top. 

At this point, you will be working as if there is one large piece of wood creating the table top. If there is a finish on the table, you should strip it all the way down to the bare wood. Sand the table top to a nice even surface. You’ll then stain it to a color you desire. Once the stain has dried, you can add a protective top coat. 

That’s it you have made a beautiful leaf for your dining room table.