Why is this happening to an oak table?

[yartin]

Hi
Please see pics, why is this happening? is it repairable, if yes how?
The sides are tilting downward. I haven't used the table since January, various plates, pans and dry food/can were on the table, just kitchen staff nothing heavy.

Thanks

 

[big-all]

complete guess as nothing seems obvious
i wonder iff with the leafs [wings] in and well loaded up the the leverage is forcing up the table middle and the fixing are not preventing the centre rising
it looks like a small gap above the large timber where the inner end off the legs on the leaf rest[pivot up]
perhaps even someone mucking about falling hard against the leaf

 

[yartin]

Is it worth taking it to pieces to rebuild? I took the screws of the small blocks but the blocks didn't budge, glued or something like t&g fixing?

 

[johnny2007]

The beauty of wood.
Let it be.

 

[big-all]

i would try by putting the leaves on and getting someone to lean and see iff it lifts the cross beams underneath if so you need a way to prevent the beam moving and transferring the load to the top assuming my thought are correct as they may off course be miles out lol

 

[yartin]

Yes I think the leaves have caused it, I had one fitted and loaded with heavy plates was there for 10 months, seems pushed the middle up. Would placing heavy staff in the middle for few weeks/months repair it? Anything else I can try, may be clamps?

 

[foxhole]

Looks like pine with oak stain, not oak.

 

[big-all]

Yes I think the leaves have caused it, I had one fitted and loaded with heavy plates was there for 10 months, seems pushed the middle up. Would placing heavy staff in the middle for few weeks/months repair it? Anything else I can try, may be clamps?

yes weighing it down will help to relax the timbers to a normal position but you need to hold the weight by making sure that big heavy cross-beam holds the load and transfers it to the side rails

 

[yartin]

What sort of weight for a beam? around 20kg?

Will a sandbag for each beam do the job?

 

[big-all]

it probably just needs a few screws tightening up somewhere do those 2 screws in the block underneath go into the cross beam
any weight to flatten the table would be on the table top
if your using sand bags protect the top with plastic and old newspaper to avoid moisture or scratching

 

[yartin]

Looks like pine with oak stain, not oak.

Looks like pine with oak stain, not oak.

I don't think it's pine or stained, invoice said oak 20 years ago. I just sanded one of the leaves/wings and applied Sadolin wood oil (no stain) to a small area and result same as the table finish.

 

[yartin]

it probably just needs a few screws tightening up somewhere do those 2 screws in the block underneath go into the cross beam
any weight to flatten the table would be on the table top
if your using sand bags protect the top with plastic and old newspaper to avoid moisture or scratching

All screws are tight. The 2 screws in the blocks go into the cross beams, there are 5 beams.
Is it best to unscrew them when putting sand bags to allow relaxation of timber?
Sandbags will be placed on top of the table directly above beams?

 

[big-all]

is there a gap between the top off the cross beam and table top ?
you only need to touch the beams that the extension leaf legs touch/reach if the legs dont reach you wont get the weight levering onto that beam only the ones the legs touch

 

[yartin]

is there a gap between the top off the cross beam and table top ?
you only need to touch the beams that the extension leaf legs touch/reach if the legs dont reach you wont get the weight levering onto that beam only the ones the legs touch

I have put new pics, both sides of the table have same exact issue. The leaf was only at one end, there are gaps between beam and table top but only to fit a business card and only for up to 10cm per beam and not along the whole beam. So wondering if it's something else wrong?

 

[big-all]

the only other choice is the edge is drooping but theres not enough overhang to make that happen easily ???
so the only gap is 1mm on top??
any gap between the side block and the cross beam or indeed a shadow under the area off the block to suggest its moved up