what is the ideal modelling table?

[AON]

Thank you Pat.

It is a wonderful feeling to see a mere thought and then vision develop and transform into reality.

Now that it is beginning to resemble an actual table I cannot wait to see it finished... this is when I have to reel myself in a bit to avoid doing something really dumb

 

For instance, I don't know what I was thinking when I was going to drill the lift cylinder mounting holes with my hand held drill and the legs bolted in place.

It would never have aligned properly!

I took the legs off last night to use my drill press... this will keep them parallel with the surface.

I also double checked the new metric bolts .... they are the correct ones!

 

Oops!  Should have answered your question... eh?

I am thinking one shelf across the bottom with store bought clear plastic (see through) containers/drawer units on it.

I use these for my carving tools at the moment and they seem to work for me

Edited June 5, 2014 by AON

[BANYAN]

Thanks Alan,  I am looking forward t seeing the completed project.

 

BTW - don't feel like Robinson Cruse in not foreseeing every step before assembly - "Guilty your honour" from this side too

 

cheers

 

Pat

[grsjax]

The ideal modeling table is what ever works for you. 

[Pete Jaquith]

My work shop is located in the garage which I share with the family automobiles.  This caused me to design mobile work tables based on industrial shelving components from the Container Store.  As illustrated, this provides a solid work surface that will easly handle small shop tools.  I currently use four such 2' x 8' mobile tables.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

[AON]

I managed to get quite a bit done this weekend as the following photos will show.

 

01 drilling holes in legs - using the sticky back templates provided with the mechanism made this step considerably easier

 

02 wiring - ran wiring to each of the three electrical boxes

 

03 wiring - installed the plugs and plates; had to run out to Home Hardware to get a 3 prong plug for the end of the feed wire as the one I thought I had seems to have walked away.

 

04 mounting legs - everything lined up perfectly; I used socket head cap screws and a flat washer to give me some additional bearing surface area against the wooden leg so when torquing the screws they would crush into the wood a little less

 

05 laying out mechanism - It was a bit tight as I hadn't allowed for the electrical outlet boxes in my plan; had to skew things to fit

 

06 securing mechanism - they had provided tie down straps for the tubing (these screwed to the table but no screws were provided); wiring cable sticky back holing slips were provided but I was uncomfortable applying these to the wafer board as I wasn't confident they would hold so I used the extra cable  straps. They had provided two screws for the control buttons but I could only use one on each as the other hole was under my frame.

 

07 table down - this is as far as I was able to go with the assembly

 

08 table up - raises 15-3/8 inches (390.5 mm) from 30-1/8" to 45-1/2" (767 mm to 1156 mm) in 24 seconds.  The lowering was uneven as the far side did not have adequate weight on the cylinders.  I placed the model table tops on the table and added a bit more weight and tested again and it all worked fine.  When I complete the table assembly it should have enough weight to it.

 

09 table - a shot of the table with the modelling half placed on top

 

I will not be able to make the frame for the modelling half for another week as my son has borrowed the cut-off and circular saws for the re-modelling of his home.  This will allow me to concentrate on my ship modelling - establishing the rabbet line.  I have taken a quad-zillion measurements off the plans and have been plotting them out in my 3D model.

Hope to be posting there again soon.

 

Alan

[AON]

Pete

 

Nice workshop... and room left over to park your car!

(When needed mine flows out of my designated play area in the dungeon to the rest of the basement)

 

Some how I would not have thought snows shoes and San Diego, California would go together  

Edited June 9, 2014 by AON

[Pete Jaquith]

Alan,

 

These pictures were taken at my East Coast home in Hancock, NH.  Linda and I have sinced moved back to San Diego, CA.  I plan to set up a similar shop in San Diego when I complete my 1:1 scale shipbuilding assignment here in North Vancouver, BC Canada.

 

Regards,

Pete

[AON]

Ahhhhhhh

British Columbia aka God's Country .... unless you are speaking to people from Alberta  

[AON]

Did some more work on the table this weekend.

Following is a description of the work and some photos

 

1. built frame work for the pivot table (picture of set up to drill dowel pin holes)

2. assembled the sub table top to the frame (drilled and screwed)

3. assembled the finished table top to the sub top (drilled and screwed)

4. applied wood putty to the screw holes

5. assembled the tracks to the table top (drilled and screwed)

6. assembled the pivot table to the table assembly, Temporarily inserted the pivot pins and... they would not assemble. Lifted the pivot table to take a look and the very first set of screws (step 2 above) went through the pivot pin holes, effectively blocking them.

7. take all the screws out of the top sheet (this meant digging out the wood putty). Remove the four offending screws and insert shorter screws. Check that they were indeed short enough. Reassemble the whole thing a second time.

8. cut out my primary pin support blocks (the pin goes through this block first then through the hole in the pivot plate, then through the hole in the frame.  This way the 3/8" diameter aluminium pivot pin is supported both sides of the pivot plate)

9, added furniture button gliders (the white round button behind the block on the frame) onto the stationary frame so when the table is pivoted the wood will rub against the glider, not wood on wood)

9. I also added a strain relief to the electrical power cord (the green rectangular shaped box over the black power cord)

 

Left to do:

- complete the pin support blocks

- assemble blocks to table frame

- complete and assemble the pivot pins

- add the leg cross bracing and shelf

- painting

Edited June 23, 2014 by AON

[BANYAN]

That's an impressive table Alan,  I look forward to seeing the completed version -  gives me some food for thought

 

cheers

 

Pat

[gjdale]

Nicely done Alan. When do you start taking orders?

[AON]

sorry

no orders

once this is built I start my Billy Ruffian build  

[druxey]

I agree with Joe. If you plan on doing a lot of rigging, an adjustable height table is a plus. 

 

How are you planning on using the table? Just to keep the model on while working on it? If so, it doesn't need to be large, If it needs to act as a workbench, then you will always need a size larger than what you actually have! Any table wider than about 24" is awkward to reach across. Sturdiness for safety is good, too. Also, you can never have enough storage. (See Remco's drawer set!)

[AON]

GOOD MORNING ALL!

 

I will admit I was concerned about sturdiness of such a narrow (24") work table when raised so high but am happy to announce this table is much more sturdy and solid than I expected.  Once I have the shelf on the bottom the centre of gravity will be lowered and it will be slightly better grounded yet.  I had even pivoted the table with the pins inserted to get a feel for the usefulness of the feature and it gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling of a thing done right.  Even if used only a few times it will be worth it to me.

 

The "walk around" versus the "Lazy Suzan turn table" feature was a compromise for space and further expense.  I am feeling good about this decision also but have not glued the top down so I can instigate plan B at any time in the future.  The 3" wheels that were purchased with the lift glide extremely smooth and easy, absolutely effortless.  I just need the lighting installed overhead.

 

It also took awhile to settle on 24" x 48" for the build portion as I was going to go 18 or 20" x 36" but after reviewing build scales and the fact I didn't want to do this twice 24" x 48" seemed practical with regards to ergonomics (comfort and arm reach)

 

This is all about comfort for me, storage of the build while under construction, storage of the wee bits and pieces between my visits.

 

The size seems too large at the moment but if I go 1:48 scale (which I am really getting serious about) it will be perfect.

 

As usual I am thinking ahead to a "tent cover" to keep the dust off the build.

Edited June 24, 2014 by AON

[AON]

I managed to put in more time on my modeling table build and it is near done.

(Pictures follow below)

 

I installed the short cross braces at the bottom of the end legs

These are held in place with screws and metal brackets below and above

I then installed metal shelf hanging brackets (I had been saving these for years)

 

Then built the shelf / long cross brace

Cut the shelf and two stiffeners to length

Marked off the location of the shelf bracket so the braces would be located just clear

Chalked screw centre lines and outer edge of brace

Clamped the brace to the shelf aligning it to the outer edge chalk line

Drilled pilot holes, drilled countersunk holes and screwed in place

Wood puttied the holes above the screw heads

Installed the shelf and screwed to the bracket from underneath

 

Installed the four pivot pin support brackets

Cut my 3/8” diameter aluminium rod into 4 equal lengths

Ground a radius edge on one end and taper on the other

Bent a pull tab at 90° on the radius end about 1-1/2” long

 

Installed the pivot table and tested it out … it didn’t work

The holes were to tight and minor misalignment caused binding

Opened up all the holes… yes all of them

Now the pivot option works!

 

Left to do…

1. Finish the table top edges

2. Paint

3. Final Clean up

 

My breaking news:

My darling wife saw my work spilling out of my play area and spreading all over the basement.

She (who must be obeyed) suggested I need to enlarge my work room

(don't have to tell me twice ... another project!!!... ????)

 

Alan

[BANYAN]

That's looking top-notch Alan; a very versatile work platform that could also be utilised as a drafting table with a clip on extension for larger drawings/plans

 

cheers

 

Pat

[michael mott]

Lovely worktable Alan.

 

Michael

[gjdale]

Impressive table Alan. Looking forward to seeing the playroom extension!

[AON]

Thanks guys

Can't wait to start building on it

 

Drafting (draughting) table?

 

I moved on from that about 25 years ago.

Still have my pencils, compass and accessories, brush, sanding board, triangular scales, french curves.........

Might even have a few sheets of D size paper in a tube.

 

I'd need a cover ... and a place to put my model!!

[Donny]

Thanks for all the input. Some lovely ideas.

[Shiptek]

Wow! A man of action! Way to put your money where your mouth is! 

 

I wish I had the type of space some of you guys have out there. Nice work.

[AON]

Why thank you Shiptek!.  

 

I use to tell all the young'uns " just do it" long before those "shoe people" started saying it.

They should pay me a royalty.  

 

I will be enlarging my play area starting tomorrow, doubling the length of the room so possibly my next project will stay contained inside of it.

I just love building things, including walls!  

[rfolsom]

I like the idea of several "workstations".  Besides my main bench, I commandeered the top of a small bookcase to do some trim work.  Also, everyone gives me grief about "working on the carpet";  I take my photos on the carpet because that's where my corded, $5 webcam reaches to.  My (much more expensive) digital camera doesn't take pictures near as well....

[rafterrat_2005]

I have a couple work tables "desks" that were FREE and each one has it's own purpose.

 The one that has a vacuum canister is my vacuum cleaner dust collector that was also FREE.

[pirozzi]

The ideal work table is whatever fits in your shop and allows the best access both in height and around the ship.

 

Vince P.

[ronny]

nice work place

[Mike Y]

Interesting news about a lifting tables.

IKEA lowered the price bar, they offer electrical lifting table mechanism (frame, legs, motors, everything, just add a tabletop) for just $400: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50263225/

 

And they also offer a hand-cranked table, same thing but not electrical - $229! http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49084965/

 

Looks like it is the cheapest way to have a height-adjusted table in your workshop

Edited September 1, 2015 by Mike Y

[Gaetan Bordeleau]

$400 US,  max load 70 KG,  for that price, it is surely good, the main difference is the max load is 150 KG for a standing desk.

 

Another option, here in Quebec, on Kijiji, we can buy a  used dental chair between $300 and $600 CA, with a max load of about 150 KG.

 

1 disadvantage; the weight, easy to compensate by adding wheels.

[AON]

now that is thinking outside the box!

[Gaetan Bordeleau]

Alan, another advantage; angular adjustment.

Edited September 7, 2015 by Gaetan Bordeleau