table legs/posts

[bennobel]

anyone know where i can get a retractable table post that is freestanding and raises and lowers for dining and sleeping?

like the one on the attachment.... Thanks!!!

[BDandTTs]

When remodeling our dinette to a free-standing table we also investigated telescoping legs but were unable to find many alternatives, and none that were affordable. Our desire for non-standard table and bench height was another complication.

During one of Bob's frequent brainstorms he envisioned using common plumbing parts ... four inch PVC drain pipe and toilet flanges. We cut two sets of 4" legs, one to table height and the other for the sleeping platform. The legs were painted to match our Aluminum interior. The flanges are screwed into the floor and the table bottom. Bob turned wood collars to cover the floor flanges after the attached photos were taken.

The fit is very snug and the setup is stable in both the table and bed position. The total cost was around $35.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by BDandTTs

When remodeling our dinette to a free-standing table we also investigated telescoping legs but were unable to find many alternatives, and none that were affordable. Our desire for non-standard table and bench height was another complication.

During one of Bob's frequent brainstorms he envisioned using common plumbing parts ... four inch PVC drain pipe and toilet flanges. We cut two sets of 4" legs, one to table height and the other for the sleeping platform. The legs were painted to match our Aluminum interior. The flanges are screwed into the floor and the table bottom. Bob turned wood collars to cover the floor flanges after the attached photos were taken.

The fit is very snug and the setup is stable in both the table and bed position. The total cost was around $35.

Very clever Bob!

I admire the innovative thinking.

Beautiful Airstream too.

[bennobel]

excellent. may i also ask, when turning the table into the bed, must you unscrew the flanges and install the shorter ones? or do you have a method of quickly converting the table to a bed? Thanks!

[BDandTTs]

The flanges are fixed, and the tubes merely slide over the flange and fit with friction alone. Because our table is 6 foot long, and heavy, it is helpful to have 2 of us lift the table and remove the posts. We then place the alternative posts on the floor flanges and replace the table top. Takes about a minute as long as we are on the same page.

We have found that the aluminum paint scratches easily, so we plan to spray them with clear coat. Alternatively, we could repaint them regularly depending on use. For the price, we'll deal with the maintenance.