Attaching Folding Legs to a HCD

[bc6]

Im curious how do you exactly attach legs to a HCD like Dave Vollmer did. This may be a  question for Dave but I figure others have done it and or others may want to know how its done thanks.

[davefoxx]

As you know, the core of the HCD is hollow (actually a honeycomb construction for lightweight).  Around the edge is where the solid material is.  I installed a couple of 1"x4" pieces across the width of the door, screwing into the solid portion around the edge and gluing across the entire surface of the 1"x4".  Now, you can screw the table legs to these.  In my case, I needed four pieces of 1"x4"s, because I used folding banquet table legs (each set of legs needs two 1"x4"s for their mounting points).

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of this construction, but it was also described in the articles for the MR project layout, The Carolina Central.  In other words, I didn't come up with this; Marty McGuirk did.  Anyhow, in the following picture, you can see the folding banquet table legs, and, if you look close, you'll also see how I installed a shelf for the DCC command station.  This was hung off of the same 1"x4"s.  Since I hung the fascia board down 3/4", the 1"x4"s are hidden.



Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx

[Dave V]

I did the same thing the other Dave did.  It's easy!  It's even easier if you do it before you scenic the layout...   

[MVW]

Same thing here, with great results.

Also note in Dave's photo above that electrical conduit was sawed to length and slipped over the table legs to bring the whole thing up to a desired height. I went a step further, and sawed off wood dowels and inserted them in the conduit. Adjustable thingamajigs (can't think of the term right now) were screwed into the dowels to assist with leveling. This was not an original idea of mine, of course, but lifted from some MR article or book.

Right now I have two HCDs end to end. One HCD has two sets of legs, like the photo above. It also has a 1x4 lip that extends over one end. The adjoining table only has one set of legs, with the other end of the table resting on the lip. I've had no problems with this arrangement.

It won't take you more than a matter of minutes to get an HCD up and ready for duty.

Good luck!

Jim

[davefoxx]

Also note in Dave's photo above that electrical conduit was sawed to length and slipped over the table legs to bring the whole thing up to a desired height. I went a step further, and sawed off wood dowels and inserted them in the conduit. Adjustable thingamajigs (can't think of the term right now) were screwed into the dowels to assist with leveling. This was not an original idea of mine, of course, but lifted from some MR article or book.

Yes, I installed wood dowels into the electrical conduit, too, and then drilled holes in the dowels to accept tee nuts.  Thread a bolt into the tee nut and instant leveling feet!  Works great.

DFF

[MVW]

I've used T-nuts in the past with no problem. This time around I picked up a couple packs of adjustable feet used for leveling furniture. Same concept, but it has a flat metal bottom that won't scar up, say, a hardwood floor, like a bolt head might. A pack of four costs a couple bucks.

Jim

[davefoxx]

I've used T-nuts in the past with no problem. This time around I picked up a couple packs of adjustable feet used for leveling furniture. Same concept, but it has a flat metal bottom that won't scar up, say, a hardwood floor, like a bolt head might. A pack of four costs a couple bucks.

Jim

I've actually considered that issue, and I might even use carriage bolts next time.  They have rounded or convex-shaped heads.

DFF

[bc6]

Thanks guys, one I get my HCD layout I'll take pics of the leg installations lol.

[Dave V]

Here's a close-up of mine...

[bc6]

Cool, thanks Dave.