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Thread: Folding Oyster Table

  1. #1

    Folding Oyster Table

    Need some help! In the process of designing a folding oyster table for a friend. Initially, what started as a plywood top to sit on sawhorses or trash cans, has evolved to a full cedar tabletop that will sit on custom made aluminum folding legs (marine welder making them, hopefully).

    That said, I am stuck on the hinge portion... First thought was to use an extruded stainless piano hinge, but having trouble figuring out how to account for wood movement, any ideas? Based on "the woodshop widget" expansion across the top shouldn't be more than 1/16" throughout the course of the year (in eastern NC), but this still needs to be accounted for... Thinking slotted holes, may work, or is there a better style hinge that one may reccomend? Apron/skirts would be made like a standard table, except joined with rabbets as there will be no leg to M&T into.

    I have already mentioned about leaving the hinge off altogether, and basically having two sides, though that option wasn't well received... The aprons will be joined with star knobs and a T-nut sunk on the inside, when in use. Folded for storage. I also tried to recommend just folding legs, but friend isn't going for it.
    Last edited by Michael Stein; 02-10-2017 at 3:21 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    I would suggest 2 or 3 Butler Table hinges. With one centered on the width and the other two near the out side edges wood movement shouldn't be much of a problem.
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    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
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  3. #3
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    You could run the cedar boards along the shorter dimension of the table. There's no expansion in that direction, so you could hinge the two halves any way you like -- piano hinge, knuckle hinge, whatever.

    (BTW, I've never seen extruded piano hinge. All the stuff I've seen is rolled sheet metal. It is sold with #4 screws, so neither the hinge nor the screw connection to the wood is very strong.)

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    I agree with Lee. 3 or 4 individual hinges and the problem goes away. I always use extruded and machined brass piano hinge but I have never come across stainless extruded hinge. It sounds wallet draining. Cheers

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