A trestle table is a leg that typically folds under a wood slab. The slab is not necessarily solid; it could be a plank, a board, or even a veneer. Either way, the trestle leg is more commonly called a folding table because it collapses to save space.
However, some models don’t collapse and work on hinges alone to make the surface level with the floor for sitting or standing at ease. Such designs resemble modern pub tables but can comfortably seat four adults for dinner while taking up less room than a stack of two-by-fours.
Before we go any further, though, let me first give you some background information on what a trestle table is. A trestle table can best be described as a dining or work area with two legs at one end of the table, connected by several “cross beams,” which are usually removable for transport and storage purposes. There are many different designs available, but the most common form of this type of table, and the form that I will be describing today, is a long rectangular table with two legs at each end which can easily be made from either new or scrap wood.
There’s no specific height requirement for these dining companions because they’re adjustable by adding risers underneath their equivalent in round tabletop pedestals. This is also true for pedestal-style office desks and sewing tables, coffee tables, and end tables that use the same system.
Height adjustability means gravity bears most of the load — not shock and vibration like desktop computers and flat-screen televisions — so sturdy materials such as steel and cast iron are best to support large work surfaces. Such pairings can last a lifetime if stainless steels or anodized alloys guard their finishes against rusting or oxidation, respectively.
Wood veneers should be sealed with lacquer because glass tops might shatter during earthquakes (depending on where you live). As for weight capacity, it’s safe to assume what the manufacturer states about tabletop sizes applies here, too: adult men usually can’t put any more than 180 pounds of downward force on the center without compromising structural integrity.
How much weight your trestle table can safely bear depends on its size. The bigger it is, the sturdier it will be because gravity has more surface area to work with when distributed across more considerable distances. This doesn’t mean you’re limited to small items, however.
But most importantly, the most stable tables are rigid in all three dimensions, not just two like many wobbly café tables that rock back and forth on uneven pedestal bases or patchy tile floors with parquet mosaics. That means they should have no problem supporting an immense glass showcase under normal load conditions (if you want to show off your best dinnerware or Grandma’s china ).
Trestle tables are the best option for saving space without sacrificing sturdiness. They can be made using wood, metal, or laminated materials is another bonus.
