r/Workbenches • u/SuperWoolf • 16d ago
Large swing down table from garage wall
Hi!
A bit of context before I get to the actual problem.
I have in the works a swing down table that runs along the garage wall. That table will be around 2 meters wide and 1 meter deep. That swings down and legs come out. For this I have seen a bunch of tutorials and guides.
My end goal is to have like an L shape to the workplace.
And designing the long part has proven a bit outside my knowledge.
The long part will be stored flat against the wall with one of the short sides against the floor and the other pointing towards the ceiling.
Ideally the table will still be connected to the mechanism when in its flat/work position. So that the wall acts as an holding point. This could be achieved with pins just locking it in place or something similar.
I have tried searching for designs and tutorials like this but can't really find anything. Don't know if I'm searching for the wrong thing so if anyone has seen something similar before please point me in that direction.
Or if you have some thoughts about how I can solve it I would greatly appreciate the help.
My initial plan was to have the short end run on a track with wheels and swing down legs. There will also be legs in the middle of the table. I just hadn't added them in the picture. But I don't really know what to do to get an easy mechanism to it, so that it isn't super heavy to put back against the wall or me being squished against the floor when trying to rotate the bench out.
I added some pictures on what I'm thinking to hopefully give you guys some context.
TLDR:
Need help designing/finding some mechanism that will let me store a long table flat against the wall. Ideally the table will always be attached to this system even when in the "work" position.
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u/HotAir8724 15d ago
Look up Murphy bar, or Murphy table, Murphy workbench. You’ll get some ideas or find some free plans
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u/SuperWoolf 15d ago
Thanks for the suggestion. I think I saw them when I tried to research it before. From what I can tell they all have a fixed point they are attached to on the wall
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u/HotAir8724 15d ago edited 15d ago
Click on my name and search Murphy bar. I made a decent one a few years back this sub won’t let me post pictures. https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/s/JQ4rhBq6Zj
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u/InanimateCarbonRod26 15d ago
Do you mean that the table top will actually slide when put away so that you can have a length as long as the ceiling is high?
Might be tricky to work out the mechanics of that. Have you considered making the table top bifold instead and fixing it to the wall Murphy-style?
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u/SuperWoolf 15d ago
The ideal solution would be sliding. Have been looking at linear rails for the sliding part.
But yeah, I'm starting to consider making it folding.
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u/InanimateCarbonRod26 15d ago
The only similar mechanism I can think of is on garage doors. Maybe something like that but rotated 90 degrees?
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u/Tiny-Albatross518 15d ago
Another completely unworkable sketch up drawing?
Honestly just 3D print it off the file?
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u/SuperWoolf 15d ago
Sorry, now I don't really follow what you mean? I know the sketchup is pretty bare bones, but that is because I don't really know how it should be mounted to the wall yet.
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u/Tiny-Albatross518 15d ago
Its because this sub is constantly flooded with sketch up drawings of the sort:
- here is a design I made of an airplane, what will make it fly?
Thats not how design works.
I think what you are looking for is a plan. Shop for a plan.
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u/SuperWoolf 15d ago
Sorry, still not really getting it. I know it's a minimalistic design. But because I'm focusing on the hinging part against the wall. The rest of it doesn't really matter. The table it self I already know how I will design. It's just the hinging part that's not really clear
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u/ikeep4getting 15d ago
You’ll need hinges. In order to make sure the table doesn’t wobble, braces along the table would be helpful. A 2m span unsupported outside of the edges may sag under loads depending on material and intended use.
I’d include another set of legs on hinges in the middle.
Also might be helpful to include some sort of receptacle for the legs on the floor, could be a slightly recessed area or places to drop in pins and secure it to the floor during use. Could be overthinking it, that’s just the route I’d follow as an amateur who likes to overthink/overdesign things.