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Old 09-19-2014, 03:11 PM   #1
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19' - Swing out counter extension

Seeing my wife put a tray on the bed to set kitchen things on got me to thinking that maybe I could add some sort of counter extension.

My first blush thought was something like the seat trays on airline bulkhead seats.

I kicked ideas around and decided that a one plane movement was better than two. That is, this extension swings up as opposed to pivoting and dropping down. I wanted the extension to be as steady as possible.

As with all my projects, if I had to do it over I'd make a few minor changes but my wife's happy with it and that's all that matters

Ron
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Old 09-19-2014, 03:13 PM   #2
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Bed camera view
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Old 09-19-2014, 03:23 PM   #3
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Hi: Ron in BC... Gives a whole new meaning to "Breakfast in bed". Love the Corelle... same pattern as ours. Very classy!!! Alf
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Old 09-19-2014, 03:42 PM   #4
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Really nice, Ron. How is it mounted?

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Old 09-19-2014, 03:49 PM   #5
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I like USEFUL mods. This is one.
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Old 09-19-2014, 04:56 PM   #6
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Good job! Very inventive!
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Old 09-19-2014, 05:09 PM   #7
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Nice looks useful and well made
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Old 09-19-2014, 05:32 PM   #8
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Really nice, Ron. How is it mounted?

Klaus
The bracket is screwed down to the plywood platform for the bed. It has a tension adjustment so any slack or wobble that might develop can be taken out.

Like projects like this. 100% made from resource materials on hand, or as my wife says "my junk".

Ron
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Old 09-19-2014, 07:46 PM   #9
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Hi Ron,
Very nicely done I really like the way the tray folds up for storage when it's not being used. So Ron couple of quick question what did you use to bend the four corners of metal trim piece that wraps around the wood tray and how did you join them together? Are they welded together?
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Old 09-19-2014, 09:46 PM   #10
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Thanks Mark,

Materials: vertical tube, 1" square aluminum tube; counter edge, 1/8" x 1" aluminum, wood top, 1/2" maple plywood

Yes, as well as being the "edge trim" it's also a structural element and it is welded to the vertical tube.

I could have gone down to a friends and set up his bender to bend the corners but it's only 1/8" aluminum so I put a piece of round stock in the vice and hand bent them.

I'm hoping that I can get a scrap of matching arborite from ETI as I'd like it to match the counter top.

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Old 09-19-2014, 10:42 PM   #11
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Very nicely done, Ron. Got me wondering how or if I could employ/modify your idea to the back corner bed wall.
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Old 09-20-2014, 02:20 PM   #12
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This design works because the bed corners on the kitchen side are square. The swing arm swings parallel to the side of the mattress. The shelf fits right into the corner.

If I was to take it and put it on the rear side it wouldn't work. The rounded corner wouldn't let the shelf "park" in the corner.

What kind of shelf are you thinking about, one that is sort of "tv tray" and is easy to put away at night? Are you thinking about a location along the back wall?

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Old 09-20-2014, 02:48 PM   #13
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Hi Ron.
Thanks for answering my questions about the frame for your swing out counter extension. Looking at your shop in the back ground of your pictures brings back memories of my father's works shop when he was alive . He was a retired tool & die maker and he could just about make anything in his little pole barn shop. Like you if didn't have the tool for the job he would either make the tool or improvise something he had in his shop to get the job done. Once again great job.
Mark
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Old 09-20-2014, 03:37 PM   #14
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Right, back wall is looking more practical, read doable, than in the corner. Thinking an L shape support running under mattress and up against wall under window, and fold out tv tray, is the easiest way to go. Should work for soups and for books.
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Old 09-20-2014, 04:36 PM   #15
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Right, back wall is looking more practical, read doable, than in the corner. Thinking an L shape support running under mattress and up against wall under window, and fold out tv tray, is the easiest way to go. Should work for soups and for books.
Hi: MyronL... Soup is ok to eat in bed as long as it has lots of crushed crackers in it!!! Lookout for cracker crumbs in the bed though. Alf
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Old 09-20-2014, 06:21 PM   #16
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Like you if didn't have the tool for the job he would either make the tool or improvise something he had in his shop to get the job done.
Mark
Thanks Mark, You mean tools like this? I made the pickle fork when I was a poor teenager and couldn't afford to buy one. Even though I have commercial ones now it still gets misc. use. The others were my dad's generation alright. Need a pry bar? Forge your own

I'm glad I had that influence though. It gave me a "can-do" attitude and I'm glad that I can do things for myself.

Myron; I looked at the back wall situation and I can see a couple of things that might be problematic. The back wall slopes inward and I think that would be an issue.

I looked for a solution and wondered if this would feasible. Look at the two stand offs that hold the ends of the blind cords. Imagine a 1/2" tube running between them. Imagine a tv tray attached on the long edge with those plastic clamps that hold pipe and wires etc. The tray could move side-to-side and swing up. All that would be needed would be a brace to hold it level.

Just an idea.

Ron
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Old 10-31-2014, 06:09 PM   #17
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OK, another project that I can cross off the ever expanding list.

On the way back from a trip down to Camping World in Burlington I swung by ETI and picked up my $10 piece of Formica. Installed it and I'm glad I did. As nice as the maple was it's nicer to have it match the counter top.

So wifey admired it and remarked that it was nice that it was the same height as the main counter top. Like it was an accident

Ron
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Old 10-31-2014, 06:41 PM   #18
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Thanks Mark, You mean tools like this? I made the pickle fork when I was a poor teenager and couldn't afford to buy one. Even though I have commercial ones now it still gets misc. use.
Ron
Those must be some tough pickles you get out in your part of the country
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Old 10-31-2014, 06:53 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC View Post
OK, another project that I can cross off the ever expanding list.

On the way back from a trip down to Camping World in Burlington I swung by ETI and picked up my $10 piece of Formica. Installed it and I'm glad I did. As nice as the maple was it's nicer to have it match the counter top.

So wifey admired it and remarked that it was nice that it was the same height as the main counter top. Like it was an accident

Ron
Looks great Ron, I also like it much better with the matching Formica.
I also appreciate your careful measurements to ensure they ended up at the exact same height as the kitchen counter good work.
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Old 10-31-2014, 07:30 PM   #20
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Looking great Ron.
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