what is the ideal modelling table?

[AON]

Routered the grooves for the 4 foot long T- tracks along each edge

 

Insert the T-tracks for fit and show.

 

Then I started on the Pivot Plates…

 

[AON]

Laid out the shape marking curves and hole locations

(I certainly could have made some good use of the 24 inch beam compass we use to have at the office before they brought in computers

 

[AON]

Marked a cut line to cut the board into two equal size pieces and then put the marked sheet on top of the unmarked sheet and screwed them together so as to cut them both at the same time making them identical

 

Cut out the outline shape with my band saw.

I’ll mention that the table everything is done on was my drafting reference table eons ago before they brought in computers… we continue to work as a team.

 

[AON]

Drilled the holes for pinning the table at various pivoted angle from horizontal to 60° in 5° increments

 

I should mention that before drilling it is important to square the press bed to the drill bit to ensure straight holes are made

 

Sanded the edge to finished shape using a belt sander

 

And that is as far as I got this weekend

I will try laying out the legs and frames this week to cut this coming weekend.

With luck I might start some assembly.

 

[AON]

I splurged and purchased a second Up/Down control button and splitter cable for the lift

I will mount it on the opposite side of the table to the first button so that way if I am comfortably seated and find I need to make a table height adjustment I do not have to get up off my lazy butt and walk around to the other side to do it.

 

In 1990 I had a tumour removed from my neck and spinal column that required the fusing of the lower vertebrae in my neck.

I believe that this electric-hydraulic lift device and the manual pivot mechanism will be well used by me and make my time spent at the table more enjoyable.

 

I laid out one set of table legs and one long top frame piece this morning.

I will need to make these cuts before I mark the others (using these as templates).

[HIPEXEC]

I'm almost finished with remodeling my work area. I expanded the work top by three feet. I added overhead lights and electrical plug by my bench. I took over a large closet for my quartermaster storage area. (I kicked out my grandkids stuff to another room). I bought a light retractable vacuum to make for easy cleanups and I will add a pull-out swivel since I am constantly rotating my model and I'm afraid one day I'll drop it. I made a work holding stand the let's me angle it in , upright or away from me. My wife put in a new very dark hardwood floor...and guess what? I have no trouble finding the tinyest part when I drop it.

[AON]

I like what you've done and have been eye balling the underside of my table in the 3D model for storage shelves (as you have done) or drawers.

Your photos help me visualize the options

Thank you!

 

Once I get the feel for this table on casters I may add casters to the legs of my old reference table that I use for everything in my workroom because it can be a pain moving it out of the way when it is loaded down.

[AON]

I managed to get all the legs and stationary pieces cut yesterday.

Everything needs sanding

Discovered that somehow I only had one belt left for my belt sander.  I'll have to ask my son how that happened.

 

Going out this morning to get some more belts.

 

Should be doing some assembly today.

 

Here are three pics.  Cutting frames and legs to length and notching the relief for the mechanism control buttons.

 

Alan

[AON]

Yesterday was a wash with entertaining company

 

Picked up sanding belts

Cut one hole for an electrical outlet box and then had to admit to myself after trying to make it fit that it was the wrong style box and the piece was now scrap

Will have to make that piece over today

 

Victoria Day today

I believe everything is closed so I will likely not get the proper electrical outlet boxes until tomorrow

 

I should have went fishing

[AON]

This weekend did not go at all as I had planned.  C'est la vie!

 

Yesterday I managed to lightly sand all the pieces.

Started to assemble the frame directly under the table top and sub-top.

Drilled, pinned and glued four pieces.

Then I got a call that my son needed help with his bathroom renovation... so off I went.

 

My advice to any young people out there... do not buy an 115 year old home unless you are prepared to deal with no insulation, old wiring and clogged lead pipes.  Just touch one pipe and every joint from the second floor to the basement will leak.  Tear out one wall and be prepared to rewire the whole house. Rip up one floor and be amazed at how the whole house had never fallen down with the carpentry skills used to originally build or modify it along the way to you finally owning it.  I explained to my son... that is why we eventually sold our old home and bought a 10 year old brick house.

 

Some pictures of my meagre progress.

Alan

[gjdale]

Hmmmm.........

 

Let's see now. You dropped everything to go and help your son out. Very commendable.

 

And your son is where in the pictures above, you know, helping you out in return?

 

What's wrong with this picture Alan?

 

Gotta love kids...............

[AON]

I am certain he would forego the need to have his toilet re-installed to help me if I asked.

Sure he would.

 

Besides, he is too damn tall and good looking to be in a photo with me.

I simply won't allow it.

[kurtvd19]

Don:

Check out airbrushing with acrylic paints.  No odor, no hazard, soap and water clean up.  Even over-spray isn't an issue as acrylics are dry before the "dust" can hit the floor.  Even a long painting session doesn't make measurable dust and a quick sweep and it's gone, but use a spray booth of any sort with a filter on the exhaust and that's not even needed.  And a spray booth can be self made w/o the worry of an explosion proof motor as required with solvent based paints.  Simple furnace filter is adequate filter at the back side.

Kurt

[BANYAN]

Thanks for the regular updates Alan, an interesting project to watch.  I am even contemplating updating my desk with a lift - great adjustment during the rigging phase especially.  That is if my son doesn't come aknockin'

 

cheers

 

Pat

[AON]

Thank you Pat and everyone else dropping in.

 

It seems this detour project was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries.

 

I went back to fairing my 3D hull model tonight for about an hour and it is amazing what you can see with fresh eyes.

I have a feeling it will have a positive affect on my zebra striping on the hull to highlight the blemishes.

 

I might get the lofting right yet and be that much closer to templates and building my ship.

 

Unfortunately I won't get much done on the table until the weekend and this May two-four weekend is our normal planting weekend for the gardens outside.  The "love of my life" is looking forward to our being outside with hands in the dirt... and I've see the neighbourhood cats roaming back there so it should be full of surprises!

[HIPEXEC]

Here's the newest addition to my shipyard. A 360 degree turntable. It's a pull out TV turntable.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Hipexec

[Remcohe]

Rich I like the idea of this turntable. I was thinking of using a separate Lazy Susan when I start rigging, but I see the benefit of this set up.

 

Remco

[AON]

I can see the turntable will get a lot of use as I'm certain you will be asking yourself how had you managed all this time without it.

 

Can't help but wonder if I've made a mistake not having this on my table as one end of my model will be over the stationary side table

Time will tell, and I suppose it can be added later if I plan for it now.

 

 

I went out and bought new simple electrical outlet boxes, the exposed kind used on concrete walls.

These are a little larger than the normal in wall mount units and happen to cover the mess of a hole I made earlier so the part is no longer scrap!

 

Alan

[jud]

I prefer the outdoor type outlet boxes around my work bench, the type with a spring loaded cover for each outlet. Have made three extension 110 volt cords down through the years that I still use, all have that same outdoor type outlet box on them.

jud

[AON]

I had looked at them but as my outlets will be recessed in the frame below the table top at each end I think I will be okay

Worst case I can mount an outdoor cover on the box

 

As it is I had boxes (wrong style), cover plates and plugs left over from wiring my basement and I was hoping to use them up and not spend more money than necessary.  The boss/accountant has been giving me a funny look as I walk in the house with Canadian Tire, Art's Tools and Home Depot bags in hand.

[druxey]

Better smuggle your new stuff in using plain brown bags, Alan!

[AON]

Druxey:  You think I can sneak anything past "she who must be obeyed"???

 

I know you are married and I'll bet after all those wonderful years you still can't get anything past her.

 

Alan

[AON]

Spent the last two days outside in the garden and will spend at least half of today finishing up out there.

What a beautiful weekend this turned into

I am glad I booked today off work.

 

Got about an hour and a half on my table last night and hope to get a little time on it later today.

I managed to put the two electrical boxes in the ends and assembly the far end piece.

Some pics below.

 

I'd like to get the legs assembled and reference sub top on today.

Possibly mount some of the lift mechanism.

We will have to wait and see how the days work plays out

 

Alan

Edited May 27, 2014 by AON

[AON]

Once again my estimated time to complete the work outdoors was double what I thought it would be

Got about 1-1/2 hours on the table and then had to quite as I was getting tired and that's when dumb mistakes are made

 

Installed the stationary pin plates onto the table frame

Installed the stationary reference sub-table top

Placed the sub-base tilting table top under the frame and marked off centre

Placed the pivot pin plates near their final location just for show

 

Yet to do:

Need to make the frame for the underside of the pivot table section and attach to the pivot sub-table top

Attach the pivot plates to the pivot sub-table top frame

Make the pin guide blocks and pins

but before all that I want to first assemble the legs and mount the lift mechanism

 

Here are a few photos of last nights progress

 

Alan

Edited May 27, 2014 by AON

[BANYAN]

Coming along nicely Alan.  I think that when finished a condensed version of this log would make a great article for the database?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[AON]

The problem with summer time is that there is so many more things to be done... plus it was another gorgeous weekend outside

 

Once again a small amount of progress

Mounted one additional electrical box inside the frame for the lift motor plug

Ran all the legs through my 4 inch Beaver jointer-planer for better fitting

Laid out where the lift mechanism bolt holes would be and then laid out my dowel pins locations

Drilled for three dowel pins, glued up and assembled

Placed the stick on drill template for the lift mechanism to the inside of the leg

Fitted the leg in position

Yet to be drilled and bolted in place

 

I will make the other three and drill them all for the lift mechanism and mounting to the table frame at the same time

 

Until later

 

Alan

Edited June 2, 2014 by AON

[AON]

I managed to assemble two more legs last night

One to go, then I'll mount the lift and provide more pihotos

[AON]

I managed to assemble the fourth leg last night

Drilled and carriage bolted them to the frame

Took out my M5 x 25mm bolts to fasten the cylinders to the legs

Found the correct drill for the M5 bolt by drilling a hole in a scrap piece of wood and fitting the bolt through.

(the markings on my drills are worn off and my vernier calliper is at the office)

 

Something looked wrong.  Put the bolt up against the leg and it was a 1/2" longer than the leg thickness.

The blind tapped hole in the cylinder is just over 1/4" deep

Measured the bolt and it is 1-1/4" long

Took the bolt over to the cylinder and tried to screw it into the hole.... no go.

The bolt isn't an M5 thread!

 

That put a damper on progress

(note to self: never ever believe the marking on the box)

Edited June 4, 2014 by AON

[AON]

Some photos from last night

Just wish I had managed to mount the lift cylinders

 

I did get out this morning and picked up some real M5 x 25mm bolts and washers at Fastenal

[BANYAN]

Great progress Alan, looks like this will be the 'ants pants' solution when finished.  Do you intend to add drawers or tool holders etc also?

 

cheers

 

Pat

 

BTW - love your signature tag