Table construction... How to add leaves

[mcantar18c]

So, I'm making a table. A giant dining table, with leaves... which I'm not sure how I want to do. I was going to have them on a hinge and just fold out when needed, but the wife nixed that. Now I'm thinking I'lll just put arms on the leaves and have them slide in on the ends of the table, but then the leaves are separate from the table and I have no idea where we'd keep them.
Ideas?

The table top is made of four 6' long 2x12" boards, and the leaves are shorter pieces of 2x12 that run along the ends perpendicular to the other boards. I'll upload pics after work.

[mcantar18c]

Here's the table top. The leaves will attach to the ends, like at the bottom of the pic (I have to trim a couple inches off it and there is one for the other end too ).
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/14/my5ejuhu.jpg

[Irving]

Looks a lot like the table Sharpienads built. Have you seen what he did yet?

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/122597-Farmhouse-Table

[mcantar18c]

I hadn't seen that, thanks for the link. After seeing his, I kind of wish I'd done the top a little differently, but oh well. I might make a build thread when I'm finished

[rbeau30]

http://www.rockler.com/woodworking/Table-Leaf-Hardware

Looks like there are a bunch of options here.

I particularily like the Metal drop-leaf supports, plus I would put maybe a hinge on the leaves to swing down?

[mcantar18c]

Yeah a hinge was my original plan, I even went and bought the hinges for it, and then the wife decided she didn't think it would look good with the leaves just hanging there on the ends :rolleyes: