Step by Step Instructions

Coffee table sizes vary 18-28 inches wide, 30-42 inches long, and 17-19 inches high. Table leaves vary 8-26 inches wide.

1. Select nice looking table leaf/leaves for tabletop: It may be necessary to glue smaller matching leaves together to achieve sufficient width.
2. Tables legs are made from surplus table leaves narrower than the top you are making.
3. Remove hardware and skirts from leaves. Remove alignment pegs and fill holes. (Unless you are gluing leaves together, in which case use pegs for alignment.
4. Establish overhang from end to leg of 4-6 inches to legs. Mark on underside of table top.
5. Establish overhang from edge to end of leg to 1-4 inches. Mark on underside of table top.
6. Screw and glue cleats on underside of table top as support to upper end of leg. Cleats must be same width or less than legs. Often, the skirts removed are the correct width. Cleats establish desired overhangs for installing the legs. 
7. Cut legs from surplus table tops so that table top is 17-18 inches finished height. It will be necessary to cut the rounded edge off the leg so the legs are flat on the floor.
8. Cut a ¾”  thick  by 3” to 4” wide spreader to match exactly the distance between the legs. Notch ends of spreader to clear cleats so spreader can be glued to underside of table top.
9. The spreader will run under the table top and attach to the legs to stiffen the table and legs. Make 4 small ¾ by ¾  by 2 inch cleats to secure spreader to leg and leg cleat. Pre-drill these   Small cleats as they are added while you are installing the legs.
10. Pre-drill pilot holes in legs to attach to cleats and spreader.
11. Glue and screw legs to cleats.  Screw and glue spreader to table legs and  Top with small cleats from #8 above.  Adjust so that legs are square.
12. Stain or black paint on legs, spreader and perhaps table edge to give finished look.