donk
Hi folks. A friend is looking to build a layout for his young children in their playroom. He'd like to make it hinged or fold down using a plywood tabletop(maybe 4x8). I was searching the article indexes and forum posts, but can't seem to find any good guidelines on how to build a fold down table top with an edge attached to the wall.
Any suggestions, pointers, urls, or other would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Don K
The ages of the kids were not mentioned - but are certainly important. Some thoughts of mine:
- a sheet of plywood by itself is not rigid enough for a layout - even at 3/4" thick and heavy. A frame to support the plywood is needed. Hinges will have to be carefully thought out.
- hinge points and lines are obvious place for fingers to get caught, especially for younger kids. The weight of a 4x8 layout can do some serious damage to fingers and hands. Again, great care in designing the hinging motion is called for.
- even if all weight is suspended from the hinges and/or cables, legs are likely going to be needed for stabilization and prevention of damage when the layout is leaned on (accidentally or not). Legs will have to fold up or be hinged.
- in light of all the above, I would probably lean toward lightweight construction - extruded foam instead of plywood if he insists on a hinged installation.
- all rolling stock must be retrieved, put on the track, and then stored after use - every time the layout is put away or deployed. Structures must be removed, or the layout and hinging adjusted to give adequate stand-off space from the wall.
- actually, IMHO, a hinged installation for kids less than 10 is not a good idea. It's easy enough that unwatched (even momentarily) young kids are going to try deploying the layout themselves, but difficult enough that something will not be done right. An installation that requires adult help to deploy - suspended from ceiling - or can be done by kids themselves - pull out from under furniture - is probably a better answer.
- A rolling cart with layout suspended from A frames at either end would probably be more practical for the kids than hinging directly from the wall. And with the layout rotating to a vertical position between the A frames, wiring becomes a sit-down job rather than crawl-under. The A frames would give enough standoff distance from the wall to allow some structures and scenery to stay in place.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
