Raising rail on existing table (1 Viewer)

Marhault

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My table that I'm refinishing has a standard rail. I was hoping to raise it a bit and maybe even put lighting under it. Anyone have any tips on an easy effective way to do that? I'm just wanting maybe an inch or so lift.
 
My table that I'm refinishing has a standard rail. I was hoping to raise it a bit and maybe even put lighting under it. Anyone have any tips on an easy effective way to do that? I'm just wanting maybe an inch or so lift.
Depends on your table. Is the rail easily removable? Can you post pictures?
 
20190829_182320.jpg

This is what it looks like now that I've stripped it down.
20190829_100006.jpg
 
I’d make an oval out of some 1 by X pine. Paint the outside black and sandwich some T nuts in there so you can secure it to the table with bolts.
 
I’d make an oval out of some 1 by X pine. Paint the outside black and sandwich some T nuts in there so you can secure it to the table with bolts.
Now you'll have to excuse my ignorance. I'm no wood worker but are you meaning 1by on its side? Or stacked up flat? Because that's not gonna give me much lift is it?
 
You could maybe do like 3/4” plywood cut to match the existing rail that it will go under and finish the outside with a strip of edge banding or a very thin finished strip.
The lighted rail will be more difficult. I’d use plywood spacers under the rail and a thin 1/4” or less thick piece around the outside to finish it but the lighting and diffuser on the inside will take some thought. Also if you’re gonna go that far you might want to consider just rebuilding the whole rail. The little extra work might be worth it in the end. GL
P.S. you should look at how to build raised rails so you know the idea of how it works and can decide where to go from here. There’s lots of pics and instructions if you look around on here some.
 
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Now you'll have to excuse my ignorance. I'm no wood worker but are you meaning 1by on its side? Or stacked up flat? Because that's not gonna give me much lift is it?

Most raised rails are only raised 3/4” to 1”... I concur that I’d make a ring of cheap wood, but I’d forgo the paint. I’d use black melamine edge banding.. glued on both the inner and outer sides. On outter edge, a cheap way to improve the look is to add deco nails every 1.5”.

Lighting? Well, that depends on your skill.. and imho lights on that table would be an overimprovement. If doing a lighted table, I’d probably just start from scratch.
 
Now you'll have to excuse my ignorance. I'm no wood worker but are you meaning 1by on its side? Or stacked up flat? Because that's not gonna give me much lift is it?
I meant stacked up flat. If 3/4" is not enough for you, you can always use two layers. I use one layer on mine and it's plenty of room for rail lights and it feels like a comfortable height.
 
I meant stacked up flat. If 3/4" is not enough for you, you can always use two layers. I use one layer on mine and it's plenty of room for rail lights and it feels like a comfortable height.
Ok so if I do this, can I get away with not having to cut the pine precisely with the curves of the rail and stuff like basically just fill it in there so it holds the rail up well and finish the inside with like a bendable LED extrusion strip with a diffuser? Or do I need to cut it very precise?
 
Ok so if I do this, can I get away with not having to cut the pine precisely with the curves of the rail and stuff like basically just fill it in there so it holds the rail up well and finish the inside with like a bendable LED extrusion strip with a diffuser? Or do I need to cut it very precise?
It's hard to tell from the picture, but I think the outside edge would be visible - at least a little bit. For that reason I would cut as cleanly as you can then sand a paint. (or use edge banding as @Trihonda suggested.

You can get an adhesive LED strip from Amazon and diffuse it with 3/8" Poly tubing from Home Depot if you find it too harsh.
 
It's hard to tell from the picture, but I think the outside edge would be visible - at least a little bit. For that reason I would cut as cleanly as you can then sand a paint. (or use edge banding as @Trihonda suggested.

You can get an adhesive LED strip from Amazon and diffuse it with 3/8" Poly tubing from Home Depot if you find it too harsh.
I'll have to play around with it when I get home tonight to see what it might look like. Thanks for the advice.
 
Here is how mine turned out. Very happy with it. Thanks to the OP and everyone in this thread for the ideas!
 

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