Just have to share this tip!

CABix · January 23, 2021, 8:00pm

I started my build this January 1 and am just so very impressed with the design as well as this Forum.

When I was working in product development, once in a while, a design would emerge that was not only functional but actually “Elegant” we would say. Meaning simple, but right to the design requirement’s. That is the Primo to me,.

Once I printed my Crown (who would think it would be so exciting) I decided to make a proper top. Three 30" square sheets of 19mm Baltic Birch.
2.25 inches thick glued together of Birch Ply.

I actually stressed going to sleep thinking about the remounting or the four corners. The one and only part of the build I found tedious…the controls stressed me but that was my ignorance so was fun.

So I thought this idea that I nick named “Bix Sticks” , basically super simple battens or sticks that will align to tube post and hold them square. Four for the sides and two diagonals.

I took some 3 ply Birch (about 4mm any thin stock would do) and ripped them to 3 or 4 inches. I have a square design that each leg is 27" apart. Then I laid these four battens out to exactly c/l to c/l 27" and centers punched.

My tubing is 1" SS and I used a great Irwin SpeedBore ($7) bit after clamping all 4 together with a backup scrap to minimize tear out. What is so cool is since you drill all four at the exact same time they may be off 1mm but they are all off same. Sweet…

1"Irwin SpeedBore just used a hand drill.

Then I calculated and laid out the two diagonals. Either calculator or use your favorite CAD. And clamp those also mark and bore. One works but two is ever so sweet when you slid it on. You know your corners are SQUARE and it’s nice when you have to keep them level to slid down the leg tubes.

Note: I used the V1 leg base in the freshly bored hole to shoot four clearance holes for the three screws. I did 4 so I did not have to think about which stick went where.
Also Kreg pocket screws are fantastic. Self drilling and I love the square drive.

Tight as a drum and all aligned. Just position where you want to position then shoot the screws in.

Success! and I can save reuse them if I ever change my table. I measured with my tape the diagonals and they were spot on. They really only took a s short time to make but the remounting on my base was so fast I loved it.

BTW to clamp the three 30" square panels I used yellow glue and to clamp used a bottle jack and some blocking and gently jacked it against the ceiling joist.

Thanks for letting me share…tried to make it short…
-Craig

turbomacncheese · January 24, 2021, 12:42am

That’s a lot more engineered than I did on my primo build but same idea. I only had two strips, one for each short side. Cut them on the other cnc because I could, but they could have been hand drilled like you suggest.
I lined one up square with the table corner-to-corner, then screwed it in. Fastened one end of the other piece to the other side of the table and then just pivoted the end until the diagonals were right. My legs stayed in them, and I slid the feet down to the top of my boards.
I think your way is a lot more fool proof, and I depended heavily on my table being square and straight.
Nice job!

CABix · January 25, 2021, 3:53pm

Thanks…
I think because I have been a woodworker for as long as I remember (I’m 65 now so the length of memory may be fading ) I did not think twice and had all the stuff on hand I just through it together.

Afterwards seeing the post I kind of felt like many would just think OMG a little overkill!

My build was taken apart for swapping he top and perhaps I am just trying to avoid the re-wiring and the hooking up the controller and TFT. I have all the PET cable stuff and want to get that organized and honestly not sure where to begin but it will I’m sure make some sense.

turbomacncheese · January 25, 2021, 4:41pm

It may BE overkill, but it is a very complete solution. Having seen some of the builds here, I’m certain it will be appreciated.

vicious1 · January 25, 2021, 5:38pm

The suspense!!! All said and done was there any measurable skew?

Thanks for the kind words, it is a team effort and over the years all the fantastic users have shared there experiences and I try to rake them into a pile one and a while and release a newer build that makes things easier and/or better.

CABix · January 27, 2021, 1:56am

I measured the diagonals with my tape and they were spot dead on. Which the have to be since both diagonal sticks were drilled together and were both in place as I shot the three screws in.

Need to re-assemble the controls and get going. I’m procrastinating. Today put retractable casters on the bench just avoiding hooking the controls back up and get going cutting some wood.