WHICH SCREW FOR WHICH THICKNESS?

That's it your project is being built! The choice of the feet is made, that of the top also but for the screws how to do ?

Let's detail together some criteria to choose the most suitable screw when creating your furniture. Note that the screws are not sold with our foot models because their sizes depend on several components :

• The chosen foot and the thickness of the latter
• The thickness of the chosen plate and the material it is made of

The formula for calculating the correct hardware is as follows :

THE FOOT: THICKNESS OF THE PROFILE OR PLATINUM

Each foot has a certain thickness at the level of the binding. Either the binding system is integrated directly into the foot model; it is therefore necessary to find the size of the profile of the foot. Either a plate is added to the legs and therefore, we will look for the thickness of the plate.

ATTACHMENT VIA A PROFILE

A profile corresponds to the thickness of the steel used, that is to say its section.

Several models are made with hollow steel sections, in particular the: thick flat iron, trapezoid, M foot, central hourglass, cubic structure, etc.

At La Fabrique des Pieds, we use several types of profiles :

• From 100x20 : you must therefore already pass through the 20mm of the foot before reaching the tray
• From 80x30 : you must therefore already pass through the 30 mm of the foot before reaching the tray
• From 30x30 : you must therefore already pass through the 30 mm of the foot
• From 20x20 : you must therefore already pass through the 20 mm of the foot
• From 70x5 : you must therefore already pass through the 5 mm of the foot

So here you are with the first data for a foot where the fixing depends on the profile: the thickness through which it passes, if you have chosen a foot of this type.

ATTACHMENT VIA A PLATE

All our foot models are made from profile, but many require the addition of a fixing plate to simplify the assembly of your furniture. Our metalworkers therefore weld a plate of specific size (in width and in length) depending on the dimension of the foot in relation to its future use.

With us, all plates are 5 mm thick regardless of their dimensions.

If you are in this configuration, here you are with the first data. Namely the thickness to cross concerning the base.

THE TOP AND ITS THICKNESS

Just like the chosen foot, your top has a certain thickness. There are standards which are generally between 15 and 50.

On the market, there are, of course, much thinner tops and in this category we include furniture boards. That is to say the back boards on which you will attach feet to raise a piece of furniture. It is important to know this dimension so as not to go through.

Conversely, there are also much thicker versions such as a beam for example. For very thick thicknesses, there is no need to have a screw of almost the same size. It suffices that the screws are large enough to ensure a hold between the foot and the table top.

Once the information has been found, here you are with the second data to calculate the appropriate screws.

Photo credits : Left - @leloftdagnes | Right - @home_6.0

THE FORMULA FOR CALCULATING THE HARDWARE

As indicated earlier, the dimension of the screws must be less than the thickness of the profile of the foot or of the foot plate + the thickness of the plate.

The screw must be at least 3 mm shorter than the total thickness of the table top + foot, to avoid damaging and drilling your table top on the top. At La Fabrique des Pieds, we offer 20 mm, 30 mm, 45 mm et 60 mm.

Practical case :

• Foot M 71 cm (30mm of foot profile) + 20mm of top = 50mm total thickness > use 45mm screws
• Thin flat iron foot (5 mm plate profile) + 25 mm plate = 30 mm total thickness > use 20 mm screws
• Central V-foot (5 mm plate profile) + 3 mm plate = 35 mm total thickness > use 30 mm screws
• Infinite flat bar (5mm foot profile) + 200mm top = 205mm total thickness > use 30mm screws

If the thickness of the plate is much greater than the thickness of the plate, it is not imperative to choose 60mm screws. The longer the screws, the more you will need to drill. You have to find a balance between each thickness and the size of the screw, in this configuration..

PRE-DRILLING OR NOT ?

Different types of wood are present in stores, some so-called "dense" and others called "soft".

Soft woods have a better chance of making a POK on the top of the board, if the screws chosen are too large because this type of board marks more easily due to its structure. It is also easier to fix a foot on this wood, precisely because it is soft.

Dense wood decks are more concentrated and may require pre-drilling to facilitate installation and attachment without damaging the foot. Position the foot where it will be attached, mark the various fixing holes with a dot, remove the foot and drill a few centimeters. Once done, position the foot on the platform again and secure the assembly with the screws.

TRAYS DIFFERENT FROM WOOD

What about the different trays of wood: marble, granite, stone, recycled trays and others ?

Photo credits : Left - @marbrerievessot | Right - @le.temps.dune.decoandco

It is not advisable to drill these trays, as this could seriously damage them. Several fixing solutions for these trays :

• Fix the foot with special glue linked to the material
• Add an MDF or OSB type wooden top between the top and the foot to be able to remove the feet if necessary

You now know all our tips for screws, all you have to do is make your project a reality !