Doug Joseph (Design8Studio) Full-Sheet LowRider 2 "Build on a Budget"

TABLE UPDATE

Above I mentioned both that my table had some issues of being “not flat” and that I also realized I should have made the bottom / leg / support area open enough to store some 4’x8’ sheet goods on it. Also I recently added metal Superstrut side rails with new tensioners/end stops.

So, I decided take the table apart, replace the lower frame (mid section) that the legs attach to, in order lengthen it for 4x8 sheet storage access on the sides, as well as adding a more full upper frame to give better “center support” to the twin torsion boxes. Most of my “not flat” issues are because the bolts holding the torsion boxes together are not “enough” to keep the two torsion boxes from sagging a bit at the middle where they touch each other. That issue is compounded by a really sad oversight on my part, in which the upper cross bar supports (made of 2x4 lumber) were attached too low. By that I mean, the leg assemblies have tenons extending upward, that went into matching holes on the torsion box bottoms, and the “shoulder” on the tenons, was actually higher than the cross bar supports. Really frustrating oversight. It meant the outside edges of the torsion boxes were supported at a higher level than the inner edges of them (where they meet). I fully intend to fix that this time around. Actually, because (in the new design) the tenons are no longer going to fit under the torsion boxes and will now simply brace against the ends of the boxes, the new upper frame will be the only thing holding up the torsion boxes, so the low center issue really should disappear.

Below are some screen shots of my 3D planning, which was done in SketchUp Pro.

Caption/Note in image below:
Example 4’ x 8’ sheet storage on bottom shelf, accessible sliding in/out from the sides.
Side opening is 8’-1".
Note: Legs could be ‘notched’ to widen the opening even more, to allow for MDF 49" x 97" sheets to be stored.

PS: Before reassembling the new table, with my table saw I shaved 1" off the insides of each leg, widening the side opening by 2 more inches, so I can now easily store oversized MDF panels (49" x 97") as well.

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