New Laptop Table with swinging top

Randy – this is BRILLIANT. Multi-functional, beautiful piece of furniture. Absolutely brilliant. And gorgeous to look at as well. SWEEET

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Great idea!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

That’s a really great idea!!

That’s quite nice. I have to ask: Tell us how the top is attached and about the mechanism to pivot it around.

-- Gary, Florida

Good job!!

I’ve been thinking about something like that to “clean up” my evening multi tasking area in front of the TV.

Looking forward to seieing your answer to Gary’s question. Also, is the weight of the stand heavy enough to keep it from falling over, or did you add some ballast in the bottom?

-- Joe

That’s awesome! I’m interested in how the top pivots around as well.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Great idea and job!!!! Thanks for the post. Yeah how does the top pivot?

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

Hi,
The pivot point needs to be as close to the chair side as possible. To that end I used a sturdy door hinge mounted to iner inside of that top member, which is 1.25” thick. The other attachment to the hinge is to something like this but larger.


I also have attached an alluminium angle to the opposet side load off the hinge. Here are a couple of pics to show the hinge and angle. You can also see the shims that I used to create the gap I needed for the angle to slide in.

To the tipping question. The base is made from 7/8” and is able to prevent tipping althow I did have to put a piece of wood under the chair side edge to relevel it as the carpet did sink on that side.

-- If you have gone through a whole day without learning something new, you wasted it.

Great idea…excellent work!!!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Thanks Randy. Here’s another question for you, if you don’t mind. How do you keep the top from moving when it’s in the “standard” position (closed for a lack of a better term)?

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Hi oldskoolmodder,
I apply Newtons first Law, “A body continues to maintain its state of rest or of uniform motion unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.”.

Seriously, there is plenty of friction from the wood against the angle and I also have plastic slides the top rubs on.

-- If you have gone through a whole day without learning something new, you wasted it.

Oh yea,
Another feature that I have not mentioned here.
The section of the top that the laptop rests on tilts down to rest on your legs.

-- If you have gone through a whole day without learning something new, you wasted it.

This project, as they say, is getting interestinger and interestinger. Yeah, THEY say that!

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

But does it serve ice cream??

No – seriously: You may have just solved a crisis in my house! I need TWO of these!!

(spelled it out because I didn’t know how to capitalize “2”!)

-- There are many tempting parking places on the road to success

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

Very cool design and execution!

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke