Future WIP

**Powerb** · 14th September 2010, 09:04 PM

Before I take on my next bit of work, I wanna gather some ideas and make a real top-notch design.

Essentially, I want to make the bottlecap table found in the October 09 issue of BH&G. (I will try and remember to upload a picture later)
- Its pretty much a regular, basic coffee table, however there is a pattern made from bottlecaps below the glass surface. (will make sense with picture)

One idea I had was have the legs fold up, in a rotating method (as if to create a frame on the underneath side) with measurements of this "frame" allowing the table'top' to sit on the current coffee table. This would A) make the current coffee table (or box) look better, B) save space when you dont require 2 tables to be used and C) be readily available for use if needbe.

I know that probably doesnt make sense, I'll try and whip up some sketchup drawings shortly.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Things such as - material, finishes, joints, or even what "picture" to create with bottlecaps (beer caps).

**Powerb** · 14th September 2010, 09:43 PM

Attached are 3 very rough sketchup drawings. The larger item is our current coffee table/box.

I coloured each leg seperately, for ease of distinction. Also, the small red squares in the corner are to show that this is where hinges will be and the legs will fold up/down.

**joe greiner** · 15th September 2010, 08:17 PM

1. You'll need some short knee braces to maintain the legs perpendicular to the top when deployed. Have a look at folding card tables for such mechanisms.

2. If the two sets of legs are permanently U-shaped pairs, the short knee braces in their planes can be permanent. I'd place the two sets of U-shaped pairs offset by the width of the legs, so that the folded configuration would fully straddle the top of the existing table, thus stabilizing it in all 4 directions. Make the legs short enough to clear the knee braces of the other set.

3. Alternatively, arrange the legs to fold in pin-wheel fashion, as in folding card tables. For that matter, it might be simplest to find a salvage card table, with knee braces included, and harvest the legs for your construction.

Cheers,
Joe

**Powerb** · 15th September 2010, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by joe greiner

2. If the two sets of legs are permanently U-shaped pairs, the short knee braces in their planes can be permanent. I'd place the two sets of U-shaped pairs offset by the width of the legs, so that the folded configuration would fully straddle the top of the existing table, thus stabilizing it in all 4 directions. Make the legs short enough to clear the knee braces of the other set.

I don't quite grasp this bit :/

Are you saying rather than have the legs as:
_ _
_ _
to have them as :
_
l_l

**joe greiner** · 16th September 2010, 08:33 PM

I was trying to guess the operation of the legs, and I seem to have guessed wrong, so best ignore that.

I still think a pinwheel arrangement would be best, to provide resistance to shifting in all four directions, when it's placed atop the other table. The four stowed legs would create a frame to straddle the other table.

Cheers,
Joe

**Powerb** · 17th September 2010, 10:52 AM

Yeah, pinwheel was the original idea. Dunno why I drew the legs folded along 2 edges rather than all 4...

That would mean the max length of the legs could only be the width of the table it is going on top of, correct?

**joe greiner** · 17th September 2010, 11:33 PM

They could be a little longer, as long as they don't extend beyond the edge of the upper part. If consistent with objectives, the overhang could be made as large as needed for that. I'd try to make the overhang equal on all four sides, for the sake of appearance.

Cheers,
Joe

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