Hello,

I'm building a trestle table as a dining table. I'm not using any
leaves. I have a question about seating clearances. I have a book
that says one needs 24" seat center to seat center to acommodate elbows
while eating. This would really push the table size as I'm going to
accomodate three per side and two at the ends. I was hoping that I
could get away with 22". Given that the seating of 8 would be for
holidays with family, I thought the occassional bumping of elbows would
be of no harm.

The chairs themselves are 19.5" wide at their widest point.

Any thoughts?

Matt

Sit down and hold a 24" piece of something in front of you for
visualization. Damn tight, isn't it. Go ahead and use 22 if you want. A bit
worse but, once you go past a certain point, it doesn't matter.


wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello,

I'm building a trestle table as a dining table. I'm not using any
leaves. I have a question about seating clearances. I have a book
that says one needs 24" seat center to seat center to acommodate elbows
while eating. This would really push the table size as I'm going to
accomodate three per side and two at the ends. I was hoping that I
could get away with 22". Given that the seating of 8 would be for
holidays with family, I thought the occassional bumping of elbows would
be of no harm.

The chairs themselves are 19.5" wide at their widest point.

Any thoughts?

Matt

wrote in message

Any thoughts?

http://www.e-woodshop.net/Projects5.htm
http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/Trestle2004.pdf

The .pdf has readable measurements. This one seats 8 comfortably: 2 on the
ends, 3 on each side ... it works in actual practice verified by numerous
parties and family gathering the last couple of years.

Let me know if you have any questions.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/19/06

On 20 Aug 2006 05:51:03 -0700, wrote:

Hello,

I'm building a trestle table as a dining table. I'm not using any
leaves. I have a question about seating clearances. I have a book
that says one needs 24" seat center to seat center to acommodate elbows
while eating. This would really push the table size as I'm going to
accomodate three per side and two at the ends. I was hoping that I
could get away with 22". Given that the seating of 8 would be for
holidays with family, I thought the occassional bumping of elbows would
be of no harm.

The chairs themselves are 19.5" wide at their widest point.

Any thoughts?

Matt

For a rectangular table with one person on each end and three people
on two sides (seating 8 total), the guideline is that you will need a
table at least 7 feet long and 3'3" wide. That's for average-size
adults and allows for some area in the middle for serving
dishes/plates which are common with holiday meals.

How do you get 3 chairs between the legs of the base (42" on the
print)? I see in the pictures that two places have been set along that
side.

My plan calls for a table top of 90" x 42" which in itself is plenty
but the legs of the base were originally 58" apart which doesn't leave
enough room for three chairs between them.

Matt


Swingman wrote:
wrote in message

Any thoughts?

http://www.e-woodshop.net/Projects5.htm
http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/Trestle2004.pdf

The .pdf has readable measurements. This one seats 8 comfortably: 2 on the
ends, 3 on each side ... it works in actual practice verified by numerous
parties and family gathering the last couple of years.

Let me know if you have any questions.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/19/06

wrote in message

My plan calls for a table top of 90" x 42" which in itself is plenty
but the legs of the base were originally 58" apart which doesn't leave
enough room for three chairs between them.

A trestle table doesn't necessarily need room between the "base" for chairs
if the side overhang is sufficient. If you don't have access to a well
designed trestle table, take steps to find one you can sit at.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/19/06

The chairs themselves are 19.5" wide at their widest point.

Any thoughts?

Matt

24" is likely a minimum for polite friendly company. Relatives don't
exactly fit this profile. A lot of them should be seated on the curb
outside, eating out of paper bags. ( we're taking about adults) On
the other hand if you do in fact like them, then give them the 24".

Like a prior post, lay out 4 sticks (4 strips of masking tape) 24 OC
on your current table and get 3 adults to sit between them to get the
feel of good spacing.

Pete

Thanks Pete,

My wife and I have set the table for dinner at 22" OC.

Matt

wrote:
The chairs themselves are 19.5" wide at their widest point.

Any thoughts?

Matt

24" is likely a minimum for polite friendly company. Relatives don't
exactly fit this profile. A lot of them should be seated on the curb
outside, eating out of paper bags. ( we're taking about adults) On
the other hand if you do in fact like them, then give them the 24".

Like a prior post, lay out 4 sticks (4 strips of masking tape) 24 OC
on your current table and get 3 adults to sit between them to get the
feel of good spacing.

Pete

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello,

I'm building a trestle table as a dining table. I'm not using any
leaves. I have a question about seating clearances. I have a book
that says one needs 24" seat center to seat center to acommodate elbows
while eating. This would really push the table size as I'm going to
accomodate three per side and two at the ends. I was hoping that I
could get away with 22". Given that the seating of 8 would be for
holidays with family, I thought the occassional bumping of elbows would
be of no harm.

The chairs themselves are 19.5" wide at their widest point.

Any thoughts?


A lot of good advice here but try placing your chars at the spacing you have
indicated and or want and test the fit with people setting in the chairs
You do not need a table for this test.

Some people have a preference of sleeping in a King sized bet some are happy
with a Queen.

"Leon" wrote in message

A lot of good advice here but try placing your chars at the spacing you
have
indicated and or want and test the fit with people setting in the chairs
You do not need a table for this test.

You bet ... theory is fine, but there is nothing like a "practicality" test.
You should definitely take into account anticipated "mass of the ass" in
your planning.

Some people have a preference of sleeping in a King sized bet some are
happy
with a Queen.

And some, who have never designed and built a table in their lives, will
tell you how to do it from a formula in a book.

That said, if you have the room, and considering all the fat asses in the
country these days, bigger is always better when it comes to seating.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/19/06

"Swingman" wrote

That said, if you have the room, and considering all the fat asses in the
country these days, bigger is always better when it comes to seating.

Something that the airlines have not figured out yet.

Swingman wrote:
"Leon" wrote in message

A lot of good advice here but try placing your chars at the spacing you
have
indicated and or want and test the fit with people setting in the chairs
You do not need a table for this test.

You bet ... theory is fine, but there is nothing like a
"practicality" test.
You should definitely take into account anticipated "mass of the ass" in
your planning.

Some people have a preference of sleeping in a King sized bet some are
happy
with a Queen.

And some, who have never designed and built a table in their lives, will
tell you how to do it from a formula in a book.

That said, if you have the room, and considering all the fat asses in the
country these days, bigger is always better when it comes to seating.


The more things change, the more they stay the same.

It is amazing how close this subject is to finishing out the interior of
a boat.

IMHO, There is absolutely no substitute for building mock-ups.

BTW, the "mass of the ass" factor is something even the automobile
companies are starting to accept.

Lots of people like corvette automobiles.

Me, I can't even fit in one, so for me, it becomes a cute toy for
somebody else.

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

"Swingman" wrote

That said, if you have the room, and considering all the fat asses in
the
country these days, bigger is always better when it comes to seating.

Something that the airlines have not figured out yet.

Tell me about it. But maybe they're smarter than we think?

My 6' 205 lb frame sat next to a 5' 6" 250 pound girl on a Continental
Express flight from Little Rock to Houston last Friday evening ... one of
those small "regional" jets, where there are two seats on side of the aisle,
and one on the other.

Although it was a bit cozier than I would have preferred and I prefer
thinner women, she didn't sweat and smelled pretty good, so we managed just
fine thanks to our complementary body geometry:

.... my shoulders are way bigger than my ass, vice versa for her.

I was a bit worried before boarding however, because there was one guy in
line who was obviously going to take up two entire seats and I figured it
would be just my luck one of them would be mine.

I was feeling lucky after that ... until the $60 cab ride home from the
airport.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/19/06

Lee Michaels wrote:
"Swingman" wrote
That said, if you have the room, and considering all the fat asses in the
country these days, bigger is always better when it comes to seating.

Something that the airlines have not figured out yet.


Sure they have...

A bigger number of seats in the same space is better for the airline.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

"Swingman" wrote

That said, if you have the room, and considering all the fat asses in
the
country these days, bigger is always better when it comes to seating.


Something that the airlines have not figured out yet.

Tell me about it. But maybe they're smarter than we think?

My 6' 205 lb frame sat next to a 5' 6" 250 pound girl on a Continental
Express flight from Little Rock to Houston last Friday evening ... one of
those small "regional" jets, where there are two seats on side of the
aisle,
and one on the other.

Although it was a bit cozier than I would have preferred and I prefer
thinner women, she didn't sweat and smelled pretty good, so we managed
just
fine thanks to our complementary body geometry:

... my shoulders are way bigger than my ass, vice versa for her.

I was a bit worried before boarding however, because there was one guy in
line who was obviously going to take up two entire seats and I figured it
would be just my luck one of them would be mine.

I was feeling lucky after that ... until the $60 cab ride home from the
airport.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/19/06


Beats the hell out of 158 bucks to get your truck out of the parking garage
after a 7 day stay that was only supposed to be 2!

Sun, Aug 20, 2006, 5:51am (EDT-3) waves and says
Hello,
I'm building a trestle table snip I have a book that says one needs
24" seat center to seat center to acommodate elbows while eating. This
would really push the table size as I'm going to accomodate three per
side and two at the ends. I was hoping that I could get away with 22".
snip

Your table, you can make it any damn size you want to.

I've attended family gatherings/dinners when I was a kid, and it
was elbow to elbow. Separate table(s) for the smaller kids. The adult
table, I'd say we were about at your 22". Uncomfortable as all Hell.
You had to hold one arm kinda back, to make room for your neighbor's
arm. Using a knife and a fork at the same time was damn near
impossible. Hell, my shoulders are right at 22". Your book's 24"
would only be marginally better. I would say 30" woud do, but 36" would
be one Hell of a lot better. Unless that is you only plan on inviting
people once. Me, if I found out I'd have to do my eating in that
crowded conditions I'd probably only show up once.

But, as I said, your table, make it any size you want. Me, I'd
consider either a larger table, or more than one table.



JOAT
Justice was invented by the innocent.
Mercy and lawyers were invented by the guilty.