How to Lay Out an Octagon Table

An octagon table not only offers an interesting and eye-pleasing symmetrical shape, but it can also provide more space and seating for your guests than a standard rectangular or square-shaped table. Laying out the frame for an octagon table takes precise measurements. The boards must be cut and placed at specific angles to shape the octagon frame. Once you have the correct measurements and know the proper board arrangements, the project should go quickly and be completed in just a few hours.

Tape measure
Pencil
10 boards, 2-by-6-by-10-feet long
10 boards, 2-by-4-by-10-feet long
Miter saw
Flathead nails, 4 inch
Galvanized straps, 1-inch-by-12-inch

Instructions

- 1
  Place 10 boards that are 2-by-6 side by side on a work table. Use a tape measure to measure eight of the boards to 25 inches in length, and another eight boards to 20 inches. Cut the pieces along your measurements with a miter saw. Set the boards aside.
- 2
  Position ten boards that are 2-by-4 side by side on your work table. Measure two boards to a length of 48 1/2 inches, four pieces to 48 1/8 inches, one piece to 99 inches, two pieces to 31 inches, one piece to 99 inches, one piece to 64 inches, and four pieces to 30 5/8 inches. Cut the pieces to the measurements with your miter saw.
- 3
  Position four 48 1/8-inch boards so they touch at their ends, forming a plus sign. Place one 48 1/2-inch piece between two of the 48 1/8-inch boards. Position the second 48 1/2 piece between the last pair of 48 1/8 pieces. Place the 99-inch board at a diagonal across the other boards. This forms one open-sided octagon form.
- 4
  Position the four boards that are 30 5/8 inch on the work surface. Touch the ends together so they form a plus sign. Place one of the 31-inch pieces between a pair of the 30 5/8-inch pieces. Place the second 31-inch piece so it rests between the second set of 30 5/8-inch pieces.
  
  Position your 64-inch board so it lies across the other pieces at a diagonal. This completes your second open-sided octagon form.
- 5
  Use galvanized straps and nails to secure the 48 1/2-inch boards together. Repeat this technique with the smaller octagon wood form. Nail the two octagon forms together and position the eight pieces that are 25 inch around the wood frame before nailing the boards to the frame.
  
  Position the eight boards that are 20 inch so they rest against the inside of the 25-inch boards. Secure the boards together with nails.

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Tables