Dining table leaves

36654 · Mar 29, 2014

Twice in my life I've purchased a dining table. In both cases, the table without leaves would seat 4 to 6 people. But, apparently, in belief that I may need to join a polygamist commune, dining tables are typically sold with two or more leaves that will remain unused for the duration of my ownership. Now, assuming that I'm not unique, what, if any, creative uses have you folks found for these nicely finished, but useless and never to be used pieces of wood?

Paul_F · Mar 29, 2014

Table leaves come in handy around our house. When we have our family Christmas party, we seat between 22-24 people, kids, spouses, sisters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. That requires the kitchen table and dining room table put together in the kitchen, with all the table leaves being used. We set up a smaller table just to place the food.

When we just have our immediate family for birthdays, the two leaves in our kitchen table allow us to seat fourteen.

Thank goodness we have table leaves and that we are not a polygamist commune!

Maybe one day there will be a use for your table leaves. :dunno

36654 · Mar 29, 2014

Paul_F said:
Table leaves come in handy around our house. When we have our family Christmas party, we seat between 22-24 people, kids, spouses, sisters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. That requires the kitchen table and dining room table put together in the kitchen, with all the table leaves being used. We set up a smaller table just to place the food.

When we just have our immediate family for birthdays, the two leaves in our kitchen table allow us to seat fourteen.

Thank goodness we have table leaves and that we are not a polygamist commune!

Maybe one day there will be a use for your table leaves.

Paul,

OK, now I feel bad. Real bad. A whole life wasted. And, all I had to fill it was whinning about excess table leaves..........

Jon

Bud · Mar 29, 2014

Depends.

Our's sit under the guest bed until we have to seat more than 8. Then they are brought out and put in.

I made them out of quarter swan oak. Re-used the base (it was still good).

We have friends that have a table that expands to seat 24, which is two less than their kids and grand kids. We only have 14 when everyone is home.

classicvw · Mar 29, 2014

Gets used on holidays!

My D/R table came with four leaves that store right inside. Built by Amish in Maryland, fantastic quality.

tommcgee · Mar 29, 2014

Jeeeze, nobody had children and grand kids move back in?

36654 · Mar 30, 2014

tommcgee said:
Jeeeze, nobody had children and grand kids move back in?

Back in the day, I was too busy riding my k75

Paul_F · Mar 30, 2014

ClassicVW said:
Gets used on holidays!

My D/R table came with four leaves that store right inside. Built by Amish in Maryland, fantastic quality.

That's what neat with our 200 year old+ Quebec pioneer kitchen table; the two leaves store underneath the main table top. Without the leaves, six easily sit around the table and then with the leaves, seating for 14. However, it does have one downside. Since it is so old, and folks used to be shorter, knee clearance is less than a table would have today. Tall guests who are unaccustomed to the table, sometimes bump their knees the first time they sit down for a meal.

drgnhtr · Mar 30, 2014

We inherited ours

From my wife's grandmother. Nice custom table with 4 leaves that gets used for Thankgiving and such. Seats 12 or 14 with room to spare. Went down to LA for a family wedding, my wife's cousin. Dinner table was the same maker but 10 leaves. Everyone gets to sit at the table but you have to send a letter if you want the mashed potatoes.

36654 · Mar 30, 2014

drgnhtr said:
From my wife's grandmother. Nice custom table with 4 leaves that gets used for Thankgiving and such. Seats 12 or 14 with room to spare. Went down to LA for a family wedding, my wife's cousin. Dinner table was the same maker but 10 leaves. Everyone gets to sit at the table but you have to send a letter if you want the mashed potatoes.

Ten leaves?

I live in a Cape Cod style house. Ten leaves would stretch from wall to wall.

Not only is my garage inadequate. My house must be dinky.......

akbeemer · Mar 30, 2014

Well, no one has answered your question, "what, if any, creative uses have you folks found for these nicely finished, but useless and never to be used pieces of wood?" Seems that all the answers have ultimately just made you feel bad about not having the need for seating for friends and family. In effort to divert your mind from this seemingly depressing circumstance, I will first ask you to think of the times you've attended these large festive occassions and they have turned sour. Divorces were initiated, children disowned and firearms loaded. It is not all bad that your gatherings are necessarily... intimate. Next I will propose some alyernative uses for the unneeded chunks of finished wood: 1) You have a good start on an old fashioned wooden coffen. In fact, you may have enough to build a coffin for a pet. 2) Build a 2x4 frame and create a work bench, or if space is tight build one that is attached via hinges to a wall and will fold away. 3) Quietly place them on a neighbor's front porch, ring the bell and run.

More to follow.

henzilla · Mar 30, 2014

My dining table out on the deck has leaves all over it right now, sits 6 if needed :wave

36654 · Mar 30, 2014

akbeemer said:
...... made you feel bad about not having the need for seating for friends and family. In effort to divert your mind from this seemingly depressing circumstance.........

Jeezus.......I feel like one of those wretched characters in a Frank McCourt novel..........

Just send me to the Island of Mis-fit Toys, already..

BCKRider · Mar 30, 2014

Bud said:
Depends.

Our's sit under the guest bed until we have to seat more than 8. Then they are brought out and put in.

I made them out of quarter swan oak. Re-used the base (it was still good).

We have friends that have a table that expands to seat 24, which is two less than their kids and grand kids. We only have 14 when everyone is home.

Bud, if you store the leaves under a bed, I find it much less work to use full swan oak. Just pull out the table, get out your swan call, and the leaves will fly into place. This doesn't work, however, unless your swan call is made of oak. Now that I think about, quarter swan oak just might work but, for sure you have to have four leaves.

You're welcome.

oldnslow · Mar 30, 2014

Our leaves stay in 24/7...the dining room is about 15x20, and with out them, it looks silly.

Slightly related, when I was growing up as a poor white child, my dad made a table out of a 36x80 slab door; big enough for all 7 of us and a few extras that always seemed to be around!

KenDittrick · Mar 30, 2014

Nice wide and strong shelving for heavier tools in the shop.

6322 · Mar 30, 2014

36654, if you're really good with wood, you may be able to whittle them down into a Kermit chair, or two!

braddog · Mar 31, 2014

I've got 4 kids. 3 of them are married, and one of them has gifted us with a granddaughter. There's never less than 11 or 12 for any family gathering at my house. It's easier just to leave them in, since they're big, heavy and cumbersome and store easier mounted in the table that setting in a closet somewhere.

Norwood · Mar 31, 2014

Take the extra leaves, build a trap, catch that PA Groundhog and Kill it...

36654 · Apr 1, 2014

Norwood said:
Take the extra leaves, build a trap, catch that PA Groundhog and Kill it...

Finally, an answer I can work with......

I'm currently trying to catch a Feral that has ripped the crap out of several of my window screens.....

Dining table leaves

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