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Post by onesneverenough on May 14, 2014 21:51:39 GMT 10
Hello All I managed to pick this up at Ballarat Swap recently and was wondering if anybody could give some advise at to how stable these are. I think i have seen them in modern vans and that they are stable. They can be bought at caravan parts places as i have since found out and I think they are around $150 for the kit. As you can see the original table leg was a bit agricultural and i had discussed with a friend making something similar to this and was wrapped when I saw this. The table is seen here upside down i'll probably mount the base on a couple of planks as i want to see how stable it is but i was wondering how stable this setup would be and if anybody here had any experience with one of these. the leg is simply tapered and wedges into the alloy cast parts mounted to the floor and bottom of the table. I will have to angle grind off the original and it would be difficult to weld it back on without destroying the timber floor if this proves to be no good but the advantage is this will be a) more friendly to feet b) the original slides through the floor and is a combination of red oxide and rust which is hard to coat as it will scratch no matter what is used c) if one was to drop the table the leg would go close to touching the ground and i hate to imagine the consequence of forgetting and driving off ]Does anyone have any experience?
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Post by Franklin1 on May 14, 2014 22:40:21 GMT 10
The chrome leg is fairly commonly used in outdoor cafe tables (see images ). When they are set into the 3 or 4-arm base, they seem to be pretty stable, so they must be ok for that sort of thing. I presume you will anchor the square end of the table top to the front wall, which will give it some more security. You might need to put a screw through the base collar so the tapered leg at the floor doesn't jump out of the collar on bumpy roads. cheers, Al.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2014 6:57:07 GMT 10
Hi
The idea of the drop down is good. But ... as you say.. it would be courting disaster if it was left down when travelling.
Obviously it is designed to drop down when making the table into an extra bed.
Somewhere back in history I have seen a drop down leg that does not protrude through the floor. The leg was made in 3 stages with a "Lock in " mechanism like and umbrella clip in. Just press the button and each stage drops inside the next larger stage as it decends to the floor... sort of like a periscope effect. Each stage about 10 to 12 " long... which when fully collapsed was the same height as the seat base... bed level Nothing sticking through underneath. If made with a close tolerance fit between each tube it would be fairly stable when attached to the front wall when fully extended up !!!
Regards Reddo
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Post by onesneverenough on May 15, 2014 7:59:38 GMT 10
Hi Guys Thanks for the feedback. Actually no the table is fully freestanding. In the third photo the padded backrest can be seen (removed) on top of the table, this will be recovered and secured to the front wall allowing people to sit across the front of the van. I think we will be able to sit six adults around the table in relative comfort. I didn't realise i had this photo but it illustrates how ordinary looking and potentially dangerous the original clamp is. It is a piece of pipe with a couple of grinder cuts and a nut welded on so the clamp can be tightened. The worst part is it is always going to scratch the outside of the pipe no matter what and it will always look second rate. The one i picked up at the swap has the sunken part in the floor and it fits inside the existing tube except for four gussets that will only require alight angle grinder cut in the tube and than the vinyl on the floor will be cut around it which will make it close to flush. The chrome tube is slightly compressed at each end as though it has been crushed neatly and gently in a pipe bended prior to chroming. The alloy fittings top and bottom are tapered also and the tube simply forces into these. I must confess i had not thought about it rattling loose over bumps, good point, what i was more concerned about is will it be stable as a table or will it continually come loose. My test was gong to be getting two long lengths of hard wood and screwing the base to these with a car parked on them so they can't move and see if it is stable.
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bigkel
Full Member
If you never never go, you never never know.
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Post by bigkel on May 15, 2014 9:42:25 GMT 10
I have one of those the same as you got at Ballarat in a modern van , the connection at the table end has no movement at all .the floor connection has a small amount of movement , The base will need to be fitted to a floor with absolutely no flexing around the table fitting .
cheers kel.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2014 18:37:48 GMT 10
Your Reno is coming along very well,I have a soft spot for these old Franklins! Can you tell me if that paint job is roller end or sprayed,and what sort of paint it is? Looks fantastic! Cheers Hughdeani
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Post by onesneverenough on May 15, 2014 19:07:05 GMT 10
Hi Hughdeani
The paint is done by brushing in the corners and fiddly bits, of which there are a few, and then rolling over with a sponge roller. The original was clearly sprayed and gave a nice finish but they did not go to much trouble getting into corners of cupboards etc. They practiced lean manufacturing ahead of their time.
we are using Dulux oil based enamel and i'll let you in on a secret that is because i used it on my kitchen in my house and i did not know what was there originally so Oil based was a safe bet.
Gregor
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2014 19:40:04 GMT 10
"we are using Dulux oil based enamel and i'll let you in on a secret that is because i used it on my kitchen in my house and i did not know what was there originally so Oil based was a safe bet. Gregor Read more: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/13501/table-leg?page=1&scrollTo=107859#ixzz31m80KHiJYup.. your on to a good thing there Gregor. I have been "sprayed" by other forum members on many occasions for extolling the vertues of oil based paint. Apparently.. according to them.. water base comes in all sorts of colours .. but .. according to the paint sales joints... Its all very "green" and works perfect on exterior applications. Oil based paint costs a few bob a litre more than the watery substitute,..... but in the long run.. there is no substitute for quality and longevity that oil base paint provides. There .. that should start a riot... Meanwhile .. back to the table leg..and.. don't forget .. if you make it a permanent fixture you have lost another bunk Reddo.
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Post by onesneverenough on May 15, 2014 20:12:06 GMT 10
Hey Reddo
I'm guessing they have taken the lead and a few other things out of the oil based paint these days but I believe you get better gloss with the oil based.
As for the leg it is an interference fit taper at both ends so it is removable and the table drops to a queen size bed.
Cheers
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