How to Make Wood Joints for a Wooden Table Top

Attach the 1/2-by-1/2 inch dovetail bit to the router. Insert the router into the router table.

Set the fence to 1 inch. This is the distance from the fence to the router bit as shown by the ruler on the side of the router table.

Push three 48-by-8-by-2 inch oak boards through the router table with the table push bar. Stand the boards on one lengthwise edge to cut a 1/2-inch dovetail tenon in the middle of the 2-inch edge.

Adjust the router table fence to 1/2-inch. Flip two of the boards over to stand on the uncut edge. Cut this edge of the board to leave a 1/2-inch tongue, a triangular shaped in the middle.

Cut another 48-by-8-by-2 inch oak board to make a 1/2-inch tongue in the same process.

Drip wood glue into the tenons of the three boards.

Insert the tongues into the tenons of the four 48-inch boards to make one 30 1/2-inch-wide board. Use a rubber mallet to pound the ends of the boards until they are even.

Clamp the four boards together making the table top center. Allow two hours for the wood glue to cure.

Cut two 30 1/2-by-6-by-2 inch oak boards on the router table along one lengthwise edge using the tongue cutting process. Cut a 1/2-inch tongue into the middle of the board's edge.

Set the router table fence to 1-inch. Push both ends of the table top through the router table to cut a 1/2-inch tenon into the center of each end.

Drip wood glue into the tenons on each end of the table top. Slide the 30 1/2-inch oak boards on the ends using a rubber mallet to make the edges even. Allow the wood glue to cure for two hours before adding table legs.