Festool Domino Machine Instruction Manual - page 63

tail slots so they can be properly adjusted 

after the table is completed as well.

Let’s go back to the beginning and start 

with the functional design requirements.

To be comfortable, a dining table needs 

to provide at 

least 600mm 

(a bit under 

24”) each for 

diners seated 

side to side.  

There must be 

at least 

300mm on 

either end to 

accommodate 

diners seated 

at the ends of 

the table as 

well.  

The width is 

really a matter 

of personal preference and proportional 

aesthetics. It needs to be at least 700mm 

wide and generally more in the range of 

1000mm to 1200mm wide to allow for 

serving dishes or decorations in the mid-

dle of the table.  In our case we did not 

have that luxury so I 

compromised the 

room in the middle of 

the table and made 

this one just 850mm 

wide.

The legs should not 

interfere with any of 

the diners.  For frame 

style legs like these 

there needs to be at 

least 250mm clear-

ance between the 

end of the table top 

and the legs to allow the diner knee 

space without hitting the leg structure.

For such a small table, the minimum 

length was dictated by the owner’s desire 

to be able to seat four comfortably when 

the table is closed and six when it is 

open.  To seat 

four the legs 

would need to 

be at least 

250mm in 

from the ends 

of the top and 

at least 

400mm apart.  

But, to ac-

commodate 

two people 

seated on 

each side, the 

legs would 

have to be at 

least 800mm 

apart when 

the table is extended.

That makes the minimum extended top at 

least 1400mm long (800mm or more be-

tween the legs plus 250mm at each end 

plus the thickness of the legs).  At 

1400mm long the table would feel 

crowded with four people.  To 

make it more comfortable and still 

stay within the very tight space 

constraints in the room, I designed 

this one to be 1580mm long when 

closed with the legs set back 

270mm from the ends of the table.

While small, that is a remarkably 

comfortable length for four people 

while still allowing for minimal table 

decorations in the center.