Folding table

Hi, I am new here. This is a great community with lots of ideas.

I have a question which I hope someone with more knowledge and experience can help. I am building a foldable outdoor table. I have the table top done and have wooded legs for them and know how to make them foldable by using a hinge, maybe. However, I am struggling to undertand how I can make the table stand without collapsing once opened. What can I put on the legs or the table to ensure it doesn't shake and fall if the tabled was rocked or shaken, accidentally?

Thanks for your help.

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Accepted answers

r23on

Hi Shagen

Had bit of a think and based on your sketch I have knocked up a drawing (food for thought) For strength I would go down this line to lock the legs in place

The parts I would use

Timber will be based on your need

Hinges https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-16mm-galvanised-lh-double-butt-security-gate-hinge_p4150137

All sizes based on your needs and I would use two (2) evenly space I forgot if you have your own welding kit you could make your own with some tube, 5mm flat and some 12mm bar

Hope this helps

All comments

Jason

Hi @Shagen,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Glad to see you've already noticed what a fantastic bunch of clever and creative members we have. We look forward to reading more about your own projects and plans. Feel free to post anytime you need assistance or have something to share with the community.

Let me tag some of our keen woodworkers who might be able to kick off the discussion for you about building your folding table: @Brad, @Rusty-Saw, @gbaker1512, @Johnnynl, @Yorky88, @LePallet, @woodalwaysworks, @r23on, @Poppop.

Looking forward to seeing your table project come together.

Jason

r23on

Sketch of your ideas of the folding leg would be great to understand where you are hinging from as there are a lot of ideas on how to stabilise and secure the legs

Brad

I think the easy way is to cut the top of the legs at an angle so they splay out a bit.

MitchellMc

Hi @Shagen,

I'd also like to welcome you to the Bunnings Workshop community.

As @r23on mentioned a sketch of the design would allow us to give some specific suggestions for a solution. @Brad has also given some great advice as many folding tables use an angle cut into the end of the table leg to assist rigidity.

There are many stays which can lock table legs into place like this Prestige 240mm Zinc Plated Steel Card Table Stay or Prestige 131mm Lid Support Stay. Some might be labelled as lid stays but could function just as well when used on folding legs.

Please let us know if you need further advice or had questions.

Mitchell

JDE

Shagen

Try googling Table Leg Brace. Depending on the size of your table Bunnings sells them for card tables.

JDE

Shagen

@Brad I think I like this idea as it is simple but will it be any more unstable if I had wheels?

Shagen

Not sure if the drawing makes sense. The legs at each end would fold inwards. But my problem is I’m afraid it may not be stable.

I am building this to place my drop saw and as a general work area.

r23on

Hi Shagen

as pointed out the stability of the table will be dictated by the size and quality of wheels as a suggestion i would stabilise each leg by bracing each leg this can be done by

some 10mm rod and some 25x25mm angle I will follow up with a drawing later today with a drawing of parts

r23on

Hi Shagen

Had bit of a think and based on your sketch I have knocked up a drawing (food for thought) For strength I would go down this line to lock the legs in place

The parts I would use

Timber will be based on your need

Hinges https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-16mm-galvanised-lh-double-butt-security-gate-hinge_p4150137

All sizes based on your needs and I would use two (2) evenly space I forgot if you have your own welding kit you could make your own with some tube, 5mm flat and some 12mm bar

Hope this helps

JudithW

Hi Mitchell

i recently used a similar brace to stabilise a drop leaf table.

i wanted the brace to sit close to the leg when closed.

i didn’t have any packaging as it came from my father’s workshop and it was a lot of trial and error getting the brace to fit snuggly Where I wanted it.

Is there a simple way to fit this brace or should I have revisited Pythagoras and my year 8 maths?

Any advice greatly appreciated

Judith

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JudithW. It's great to have you join us and many thanks for your question.

It really depends on the style of the brace as to where it will sit when the leaf is closed. To get the brace to fit snuggly it would be a good idea to mark out the locations of it in both the open and closed position on the leg and the leaf. Once the approximate locations have been marked out, place a temporary screw on the leaf side and close the leaf. Now that the leaf and brace are closed make sure the brace is fitted snuggly and where you want it. Insert a second temporary screw in the leg side. Open and close the leaf to see if it functions correctly before installing the screws correctly.

You might find it is slightly more difficult than just using Pythagoras theorem as it depends on where the mounting holes are on the bracket, whether it hinges in the middle and if the length of both arms are identical.

Please let us know if you need further assistance or had any questions.

Mitchell

Shagen

My folding table. Not what I was expecting but works.

MitchellMc

Hi @Shagen,

Many thanks for sharing your finished table with the community. Did you manage to sort out the collapsing leg issue and did you use some sort of stay to lock them into place?

I would advise if the table is to be out in the weather that you apply a few good coats of weatherproof varnish or exterior paint to protect the timber from the elements.

Great work and we look forward to seeing what the next project is that you're constructing around the home or garden.

Mitchell

Shagen

Thanks @MitchellMc, It isn’t quite finished yet. I want to treat it, even though it is going to be stored in my shed.

My initial plan was to collapse it inwards but that did not go to plan so I decided to fold it inwards as you see. It isn’t perfect as the two legs don’t match up. i was hoping that it would. My measurements were all wrong! Will learn to measure them properly in fixture.

I created a groove on the flat surface so that the legs don’t run, so that enabled the leg to stay when they are opened.

The ply is too thin (12mm) and is not as sturdy as I would have liked. Probably should have got an 18mm one but I thought the 12mm was the right weight.

We all learn from our mistakes,I guess.

Thanks for the support and the encouragement.

r23on

Shagen

The best teacher in the world is making mistakes and anyone who states they do not make mistakes never does anything. Before undertaking a project research research and research do a sketch no matter what is look likes, make a materials list, form this you can make any changes before starting.

Next measure, measure and measure before cutting.

Looking at your photo with a little bit of though you can make the bench work by just adding a couple of braces that clip in. Enjoy the learning process.

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