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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:23 pm Post subject: Re: Chopped up my rear table! |
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mariusstrom wrote: |
Well, we got tired of not being able to access the closet while the rear table is stowed in its travel position. Based on the other posts I've read about modifying the fridge door with a piano hinge, specifically http://www.griffco.ca/interest/vw/vwfridgemods.htm I decided to apply the same logic to my table.
Here's the final product:
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Nifty. Is the hinge pretty stout and the table still sturdy?
Have you ever tried just using your front table in the rear? _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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I've seen pictures of the mirrored door modified, too. The lower part gets cut off and just fixed in place. Then the mirrored door swings over the table. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: Chopped up my rear table! |
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carterzest wrote: |
Nifty. Is the hinge pretty stout and the table still sturdy?
Have you ever tried just using your front table in the rear? |
Seems sturdy enough, but I'll probably replace a few of the screws that came with the piano hinge with some longer 1.5" screws, just to give me a little extra grab. _________________ Marius Strom Otto: 1988 Vanagon Syncro Westy Camper
[SOLD] Felix: 1967 Deluxe Beetle |
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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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r39o wrote: |
I've seen pictures of the mirrored door modified, too. The lower part gets cut off and just fixed in place. Then the mirrored door swings over the table. |
Yep, I was tempted by that too, but I like the full height closet door so I can easily reach into the bottom of the closet. _________________ Marius Strom Otto: 1988 Vanagon Syncro Westy Camper
[SOLD] Felix: 1967 Deluxe Beetle |
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70coupyel Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2006 Posts: 1657 Location: So.Cal
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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Nice mod. So simple. Kinda cool no one has posted it before. _________________
TheAndante wrote: |
Saying that specs are different than dimensions doesn't make sense. Porsche specs/VW specs/engineering specs are nothing but a series of dimensions,sizes,percentages,measurements, etc. |
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338946&highlight=
70 KG Coup
83 Westy Waterboxer |
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nod7 Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2010 Posts: 160 Location: Seattle
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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Nice work. Looks very clean. Reminds me of the table mod found at the same site http://www.griffco.ca/interest/vw/vwtablemod.htm. I've enjoyed his mods and replicated a few of them myself. This one is very practical. Thanks for sharing.
Also, moving the front table to the rear helps access to the closet and ease of stowing the table, but it still does not allow the closet door to swing fully. _________________ '85 Westy |
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MootPoint Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006 Posts: 862 Location: ABQ, NM
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Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:10 am Post subject: |
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You could probably add to the strength and stability of the hinged portion by adding the sort of sliding bars that one would find under the "drop leaf" portion of a dining room table. Yours hinges up instead of down, but that wouldn't matter. This one's from Rockler @ $9.59 for a pair:
Cool mod nonetheless. _________________ 1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:29 am Post subject: |
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1621 wrote: |
Nice work. Looks very clean. Reminds me of the table mod found at the same site http://www.griffco.ca/interest/vw/vwtablemod.htm. I've enjoyed his mods and replicated a few of them myself. This one is very practical. Thanks for sharing. |
Hah! You know, in all my digging around his site, I've never noticed his table mod. I'm not sure If I like the piano hinge or the card table hinge better.
nod7 wrote: |
So lets talk about those kilo size bags of "White Stuff" pictured there in your closet? Is this why you need to be able to easily reach the bottom of the closet? |
They're pillows, I swear. Now that I have better access to the closet, I may move my pillows and linens out of the closet and actually use the closet for clothes and what-not.
MootPoint wrote: |
You could probably add to the strength and stability of the hinged portion by adding the sort of sliding bars that one would find under the "drop leaf" portion of a dining room table. |
Brilliant - I'll be ordering those today. I think they'll help a lot. _________________ Marius Strom Otto: 1988 Vanagon Syncro Westy Camper
[SOLD] Felix: 1967 Deluxe Beetle |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17155 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 5:49 am Post subject: |
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Thread revival. I was considering a similar project. I actually am trying to shorten the table. I played around with the smaller table and leg without any luck. To the original poster, how did you cut your table? A little detail, type of saw, blade etc would be appreciated. Mark _________________ ☮️ |
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MootPoint Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006 Posts: 862 Location: ABQ, NM
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:03 am Post subject: |
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I haven't tried cutting my table (I took it out instead since I never used it and installed an used 'fridge door in the side of the mirrored closet for access instead) but I have cut the wood+laminate for several other mods.
Hints:
• Use a table saw if you can. You will get a cleaner and straighter cut than anything you do by hand (or held in your hand). A saber saw or circular saw will work but use a good fence to get a straight cut. And no coffee before you begin.
• Whatever saw you use use a fine tooth blade. A plywood blade on a table saw/circular saw should work; a 15-20 tooth blade on a saber saw. And make sure it's a new, sharp blade.
• Pre-score the cut with a laminate knife and it should cut without tearing out little (or big) chunks of laminate. An alternative (maybe best way) is to first just touch the surface of the laminate first with the blade set to about 1/32-in or less to open the laminate for the final cut. This is really easy with a table saw.
• Cut it with the top surface up so the blade is going down through the most visible laminate and not up. This way if there is any tear-out it won't be visible when the table is in use.
• If you have any scraps of Westy laminated wood (either from some previous project or nabbed from the U-Pull) experiment first to make sure your techniques work the way you want.
That's my 2/100's of a dollar. Happy hacking! _________________ 1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:28 am Post subject: |
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If you are trying to shorten the table, it's pretty easy to get a stock look.
The router bit used to cut the Tee for the moulding is cheap and readily available. Woodcraft or Rockler or a premium lumber yard.
Remove moulding, trim to length, add radii by hand, route Tee slot, reinstall moulding and trim to length. |
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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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rsxsr wrote: |
Thread revival. I was considering a similar project. I actually am trying to shorten the table. I played around with the smaller table and leg without any luck. To the original poster, how did you cut your table? A little detail, type of saw, blade etc would be appreciated. Mark |
Just used a jig saw and a fine wood blade. Would've been better on a table with a jig to get a more perfectly straight line. Just be careful with the rubber trim around the edges - it had a tendency to clog up my blade. _________________ Marius Strom Otto: 1988 Vanagon Syncro Westy Camper
[SOLD] Felix: 1967 Deluxe Beetle |
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debbiej Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008 Posts: 1556 Location: las cruces, nm
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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I think that's a great idea! nice job, too. |
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shizzon Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2006 Posts: 596 Location: Boulder, CO
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Is the wood on the table flush when folded down flat?
Can you send a link of what kind of hinge you used?
thanks for the great mod idea!!! _________________ 1989 Bostig Syncro Westy |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17155 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:56 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the feed back on on blade and saw choice. I will be discarding a section of the table, so I can probably test that. I have a friend with a table saw and a band saw. I don't believe the teeth are "fine" though. Thanks again. _________________ ☮️ |
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BillWYellowstone Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2011 Posts: 767 Location: Yellowstone NP
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Buy a decent finer tooth blade for your friend, donate to him for the cutting favor. _________________ Live Fulltime in motorhome
Have 86 Westy Camper 2.1 rebuilt
Work in Yellowstone NP year round. |
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One more islander... Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2010 Posts: 399 Location: Canada: British Columbia West Coast
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Chopped up my rear table! |
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To remind you of another option...
carterzest wrote: |
Have you ever tried just using your front table in the rear? |
This works really well--and you don't run the risk of chipping your table beyond repair.
---
Kathy |
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atomatom Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2012 Posts: 1867 Location: in an 84 Westy or Bowen Island, BC
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:13 am Post subject: |
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Can you post a picture of the table down please. |
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