Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/6/2009

Question
I have an antique round oak pedestal table with a square split pedestal. The underside where the pedestal attaches to the table has been altered and we would like to restore it to it's original form but cannot find any info on a table like ours. It is wobbly when we split it now. A photo or a diagram of how the slides are positioned and the
pedestal is attached would be greatly appreciated.  Is this something you could help us solving?

Answer
Hi Kathleen
Nice to hear from you.
Yes this is certainly something I could help with if I knew how the table had been altered.
But they are all pretty much the same in construction.
The slides are positioned with the table top in the closed (or smallest) position. Each slide consists of three seperate pieces (sometimes only two) but likely three in this case. One side of these three pieces is screwed to one side of the table top the other side to the other side of the table top with the center piece of the slide floating free.
I know if you turn the table upside down you can clearly see if the sliders have been repositioned because you will see lighter areas in the wood where they used to be. You will also see empty screw holes.
Determine if they are in original position. I'll bet they are.
You are then going to look for the same lighter areas and empty screw holes where the pedestal may have been attached originally but on a split pedestal table there are no options for moving it that I know of.
Kathleen please look for these things first.
And while the table is upside down, check to see if all the screws are secure. Loose screws can cause this.
If these sliders have been altered you will plainy see by looking.
As far as a photo, I have none.
But please look carefully and get back to me.
There is nothing complicated about this and it can be fixed.
Kind Regards
Eileen