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I'm making a combination drafting table / plan storage display. I have it almost done and figured out, but now I thought of this:

It is 32" deep, and 48" wide. A 1 1/8" or so wide frame glued on the top, to keep the plans in, and the plastic, hardboard on the top, It should work great.

But I started thinking. Always the start of trouble.

If I tilt it, so the front drops down about 5 inches, the plans will look better. Drafting would be easier. And I don't gain another "table" to catch stuff! If it is flat, the back of wide plans would be harder to see, and maybe harder to draw. But I gain a table to hold stuff.

The wedge on the wall would be a bit over 3" so I need to have different length screws. I'm going into 2" furring strips on a concrete wall, so I'd want to size each one.

i'm leaning toward tilt.

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Why be normal?

I did some analog drafting for mechanical design in another life, and I was thnkful for tilt every time I used it. I suspect you'll regret the lack of tilt more than you'll regret the lack of the table. If it were me, I'd go for the tilt. But then, YMMV.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I think I'd make it adjustable from a flat table all the way to vertical. That way you have a multipurpose table/display you can put against the wall when not in use and adjust it to whatever angle is most comfortable for any purpose.

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

Well it is a folding table.
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-rock-st ... l-brackets

I found my answer for sure looking at the instructions. (silly thing to do) They say the maximum size of the table is 40" x 26"! So it ISN'T a table. Angled at 9 degrees.

They rate it at 500 pounds at that size. I won't have anything like that on it; especially tilted.

Yeah, I was thinking tilt for the drafting especially.

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Why be normal?

When I realized it didn't include the work surface, but was just a couple of adjustable brackets I think it would go from "buy" to "make". A pair of hinges, four bolts, a 2X2 or 2 and some drillable scrap metal could allow you to make brackets that could hold the size top you originally wanted.

Clay,
The design of the mounts is very robust. I don't have any doubt at all that the drafting table/plan display/storage will work just fine. I'm not pounding on it, or mounting a router!

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Why be normal?

You are probably right , Ken.
I hadn't noticed the levers to release the adjustment mechanism until I took a second look. I have always been leery of slots rather than discrete detents or holes for repositioning the brackets - often they slip under load. I would be curious to know how those release levers work.

Thanks for posting that link Ken.

I especially liked the customer photos of different ways to use the brackets with a table saw. I have extensions on mine I wish were "foldable" to reduce the footprint in my always too small shop.

That may just find a way into my workspace.

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I finished the table / plan storage/display box up yesterday. The basement walls were partially finished around it when me moved in 30 years ago.The back third just has furring strips. We have had 3 times where the sump pump went, or power went out, on the rare times when the water level is high. Once in an ice storm before Christmas when it was out for almost a week. The basement is usually very dry for a basement. So the paneling is off on some of the bottom. That worked good, because it was easier to mount the tapered 2 X 4 to mount the supports on an angle.

I laid out the placement of the support on the bottom of the table, and drilled 4 small holes for the screws closest to the edge. They were too far in for any of my clamps to reach. So I started the screws in by hand, holding the table so it wouldn't roll off; and then tightened them with the drill. One of the hardest steps besides getting under it, and screwing in the dozen other screws.

It closes easily pulling back on the levers, and gently lifting up. It raises with a satisfying click on each support at exactly the same time.

I'm pretty happy with it. Maybe it needs a rail to keep pencils from falling off. The brass thumb nuts on the bolts in the middle, are easier to remove when the table is down. Then raise it, and get the rest off.

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Why be normal?

Looks to be all kinds of clever / useful.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I like that. I need to figure out where I have space to copy it.