HCD Benchwork Help

[Texas Zephyr]

After three deployments, two moves and one false start, I'm ready to start building the Fort Worth & Denver. I started another thread here https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27508.msg282569#msg282569 about 18 months ago but I've since forgotten my password and what email address I used so I started a new profile.

Anyhow, I decided to scale back the layout from the other build thread to a simple HCD. Nothing fancy. Probably the tried and true Carolina Central. My problem is that this layout is sharing a bedroom with my 9 year old son. I put my door on folding table legs and used metal conduit to raise the height. But it's too rickety for the location it's in. I was looking at the Benchwork MR built for the Red Oak layout and it seems too rigid to maintain the portability an active duty lifestyle dictates. Does anyone know of some middle ground I can take? Thanks for the help.

Jason

[conrailthomas519]

Would simple 2x4's with cross bracing help? Perhaps bolt & wing nut assembly??

[Texas Zephyr]

I've been thinking about that TMM. I had a thought a few minutes ago. I'm not married to the door, just the footprint. The door was free from some units they're tearing down in base housing, so I'm not out any money. I'm wondering how well two 36x40 inch dominos would work?

[MVW]

Is it possible to position a couple bookshelves under the table, tight up against the legs? That's what I did with my HCDs, and it comes close to eliminating "horizontal" wobble. I think if a person adds an aluminum strap to actually secure the legs to the bookshelves, it would be damn solid.

Jim

[chuck geiger]

[Texas Zephyr]

Chuck

That's exactly what I was looking for! Do you have any stability issues? What size lumber did you use? Thank you for sharing.

J

[Dave V]

I use a slightly different form of folding table legs, and the pair on the JD have survived 5 PCSs and seem to be more stable than the traditional kind.  I liked them enough to use them again when I built Enola Yard:





They're the H-style legs listed here:

http://www.ebcoproducts.com/legs.html

[Texas Zephyr]

Dave, thanks for posting. I've followed your progress for several years on the various forums. I'm still leaning towards Chucks design, and that's only because the layout is sharing a room with my 9 year old, but you've got me seriously considering those H legs. Right now I've got some third or fourth hand atlas code 80 down so we can run trains roundy round and anytime you even look at the table cross-eyed it wobbles and knocks a few cars over. I think it is because I bought second hand table legs from the Habitat For Humanity store. I have noticed since I took the conduit off the table is less wobbly however it feels like I'm viewing the trains from an altitude of 5000 feet.

[Mstyle88]

I use a slightly different form of folding table legs, and the pair on the JD have survived 5 PCSs and seem to be more stable than the traditional kind.  I liked them enough to use them again when I built Enola Yard:





They're the H-style legs listed here:

http://www.ebcoproducts.com/legs.html

Hi Dave,

Thanks for sharing where you bought your folding legs, I've been looking for something like this. I see various types of folding legs listed on this page, do you know which product you purchased?

[Dave V]

Yes, the adjustable H-style legs, 20" wide.

[chuck geiger]

J - Real rigid and came apart real easily with bolts and lags. I think it was 2x4's for the legs
and 1x4's for door and foam support and 1x2's for cross braces.

[Chris333]

The latest MR that I received today shows how to make a table for a HCD.