Camp Cocktail Table: Hand Crafted and Dual Purpose

[DaveM]

Hey, another homade roll top. Very nice! I did the same table a while back after seeing the one in the OJ Gear Guide (for too much $$). I did mine out of doug fir, a tough outdoor wood in high ring counts and cheap(ish) on the west coast. Ipe is a nice choice and yours is beutifuly executed. I would have done Ash or WO but I already had some nice DF on hand from a boat project. Wood cost is vary region dependant for some of these types of wood, Ash and especially WO can be very expensive near me. Be wary of using Ash in outdoor aplications, it needs to be well sealed since water stains ash black. While Ash is tough for its weight, it has low rot resistance where woods like Ipe, DF and WO are more rot and bug resisitant.

Ok, so thats 2 tables now... anybody else?


http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25914

 

[DaveM]

Mark, how did you get the legs to screw in alignment? I wanted to do square legs as well but was afraid of having them at various angles when tigtened down. Does the rubber washer allow you to get it tight while rotating to align with table?

 

[kjp1969]

Nice work. I like the wood choice and the clever design.

 

[Moody]

You, my friend....are a boy scout.

Nicely done...:victory:

 

[marc olivares]

nicely done Mark

i have an Ipe deck and Garden boxes.
i love the stuff, but DAMN, ipe splinters are the worst!

 

[articulate]

Mark, how did you get the legs to screw in alignment? ...Does the rubber washer allow you to get it tight while rotating to align with table?

Yes, I had the same concern at first. The washers do help. Although I can get the legs to align without them, but one corner is just a wee tight.

In my head, I've been secretly trying to figure out a way to do a table like Marc Olivares did on the tail gate of the Discovery. But I've got just a pickup with a swing gate . . . I don't know, I guess at some point you've got to stop bolting junk to the truck, ya know? Which is not to take anything away from that beautiful fold down table (and magnetic knife holder, yipes).

Maybe we all know this, but building these one-off things is no way to do it "on the cheap." Even if I'd make these babies in batches, I don't think I could retail them for less than $100.

 

[DaveM]

Maybe we all know this, but building these one-off things is no way to do it "on the cheap." Even if I'd make these babies in batches, I don't think I could retail them for less than $100.

I don't know I did mine for $34 on a whim and 2 hours labor. I'm sure some good wood sourcing and bulk hardware buying could bring that down a bit. But the point of my post on them a while back was to show other forumites that this was an easy and cheap project to do for yourself, not to do for sale. I was struck by how dead simple this table design is and how much they were being sold for.

Anyway, you've raised the bar, I'm going to have to price some Honduran Mahog if I want to keep up

 

[ntsqd]

You're asking the right guy. For the most part, any wood will work, but how you choose to protect matters just as much. I'd suggest ash. I almost made it out of that one, but decided to use ipe (in part because of my job and getting experience with more species). Ash is, in general, on the low end of cost but it's still hard and stable - Roger Maris clobbered his 61 homers with an ash baseball bat. White oak would be another good choice for this table. Here's a piece I wrote about hardwoods for outdoor projects if you want some other info.

I do agree that a production table this size would be nice. Maybe there is, but it's a hell of a lot of fun to build it. Definitely not less costly, though.

Mark, thank you for the link and the info. I'm going to offer this for the GF's list. She's been wanting to take a JC wood-working class anyway. This will make an excellent class project.

"Timing" of fasteners is a big deal on high end firearms. Frequently the final drive slot isn't cut until the screw is actually installed and tight. Then it can be perfect with minimum fuss.
I would think that some manipulation of the studs in the legs could result in well oriented stopping points.

 

[Cypher]

Nice work Mark, that is a great little table, and should pack very nicely. BTW great pics...

 

[articulate]

Fellas and Ladies, I need your help. Input.

What the heck can I use for a protective bag? I'm thinking something with a drawstring at one end. Hit me with your genius ideas please.
:costumed-smiley-007

 

[Connie]

I would suggest a stuff sack that is meant for something like a sleeping bag, most outdoor stores have them in a variety of sizes.

Great table by the way.

 

[ntsqd]

I think Connie is on the right track, but I suspect that a sleeping bag sack will be too short. I'm thinking that the stuff bag from a discarded camp chair might make for a better fit. I may even have one around here somewhere. PM if you need me to have a look.

 

[Connie]

I'm thinking that the stuff bag from a discarded camp chair might make for a better fit.

Good idea, probably thicker sturdier material too.

 

[articulate]

Camp chair bag! Hadn't thought of that one. Yes, the sleeping bag compression sacks are too short. Too fat, too. Short and fat. Hold the jokes till later . . .

My wife, bless her cookie-baking soul (mmm, oatmeal chocolate chip in the oven) says she wants to try her hand at sewing something up.

 

[ntsqd]

snip....
My wife, bless her cookie-baking soul (mmm, oatmeal chocolate chip in the oven) says she wants to try her hand at sewing something up.

OK now that's just not FAIR!!! My favorite cookie!!!
:drool: