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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Hi guys. I am going to build a suitcase table. I was very close to purchasing a Lefler table, but after spending some time with a friend that has one, I found that some of my favorite effects won't fit inside the table. So I'm going to build one that would house some of my larger effects.
So far I know I'll be using 3/8" plywood and ordered Latex backed speaker cover material to cover the table. This table will be a cross between the Lefler table and the Viking suitcase table. Mine will have one sliding drawer to hold the small stuff and in the base which holds the bigger props, I will install to doors which open in the center. I determined the opened height to be 40". The Large Lefler is 38" and The Viking is 42". If there is any advice that someone can share before I start building, I would deeply appreciate it. I know that the idea is to build it as sturdy as possible, while keeping light in weight. This of course is the toughest part of the project. Thanks in advance. Rich B. |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Rich,
Make the drawer out of 1/4 inch. I made a drawer out of 3/8s as the rest of my table and the drawer doesn't need to be that heavy/strong. So 1/4 for the drawer. I got Olfin fabric--which is exactly what lefler uses. You can get it at a car uplostry places. It comes in different colors not just gray. The handle was a special order from Rockler I think. they are online. Good luck. Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
James, Thanks for the suggestions on the drawer. I'll let you know how it works out.
Rich B. |
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
Hi Rich.
Over the years I've owned most of or if not all of the roll-on mentioned in other posts. The one problem with most of them is weigh. The more plywood the heavier. Take the Lefler roll-on,when loaded with props can be very heavy. TrickyRicky |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki is taking a very simple approach to making a suitcase table:
http://www.wizkidzinc.com/Qua-Fiki/Qua-Fiki-Fans.htm He is using an antique looking suitcase from Michael's Arts and Crafts store, and it has a plywood bottom, so he simply fortified it with some pine, attached a pipe flange and screwed it onto his Eureka table base. In the photo on the right, he is shown making a PVC pipe base as well, but that is for a secondary table that won't hold much weight. The completed suitcase table is in the background. Simple, but effective.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Has any one used Alumalite or Econolite instead of plywood? It is corrugated aluminum and a 4'X 8' X 1/4” sheet weighs less than 26 pounds and very ridged. It sells locally for around $100.00 for a 4’X8’ but also comes in 5’X10’ sheets as well.
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Spellbinder...he seems like one little talented guy. However, I'm building a Joe Lefler style table...the kind with a hood that folds up for a show...and folds down for travel. Here is a link
http://www.ronjo.com/magic/leflertable.html Tom, I never thought of using the alumalite. I'm into the project already with plywood, it does sound like a good idea though. Rich B. |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
I have a hot scoop. A friend and colleague of mine has been engineering a new type of performance table. It is going to rock the magic world. This thing is light and strong and portable and has huge storage and is increadibly customisable. I cannot say more than that because it is still in R&D. I am about to be one of his beta testers. But it's coming sometime next year.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
James...my timing stinks! It sound like exactly what I need. I'm finding it hard work to build my own...but at the same time I'm enjoying it.
Does anybody know the best way to attach the material, the same that Joe Lefler uses. I was told 3M spray glue. I tried a test patch last night and it held pretty well. I was also told to use contact glue...like the stuff you use for counter tops. Anybody know what is best? Rich B. |
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Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
Are you using 3M Super 77? That's what I would use. Just make sure you spray it on the back of the material and on the surface of the table for a really secure bond. Contact cement is might seep through the material when applied and is really nasty stuff to work with. (I've done my share of applying plastic laminate, i.e. counter top material.) You really have to work in a ventilated area and should wear a respirator when applying contact cement. The fumes are toxic.
Michael |
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Thanks Mike...thats what I'm using. However, I didn't read the instructions and only sprayed the surface...not the material. Therefore the hold was just OK.
I'm sure it will work very well if I follow the directions...duh!. Rich B. |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
3m spray is the correct stuff to use. That is what I used and my table has had 3 years of solid use and the material isn't going anywhere. Make sure you've everything lined up before you put the two surfaces together. Once it's on there for more than a second it's hard to take it apart.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Hi guys. Thanks for your help and suggestions. I'm not a craftsman but a handy guy with some decent tools. I finished my table about a week ago and used it in 2 shows so far. I'm very happy with it.
It is a bit tall at 41"...you'll notice a small offset on the front of the table when opened...this was to reduce the height by an 1.5 ". It is 24" wide and 14.5" deep. When filled with all my bigger props, like: Supreme Slate of Mind Pizza Prestidigitation Snake Basket Bunny Production Box Crystal Cube Production Misers Dream Pail Acrylic Top Hat with Eureka stand and some other stuff...it is a little heavy. It is not much heavier then the large Lefler table when empty....but there is no magic in keeping it light when loading it with this many props. Anyway it was a fun build that will turn out to be very useful for me and an improvement over the Lefler table because of the drawer and easy access to the bigger props. Here are some pics on Photo Bucket. http://s496.photobucket.com/albums/rr323/RichieBmagic/ Rich B. |
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Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Nicely done!
Can you post later on your performing experiences with it? Leland |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-18 11:05, Leland Stone wrote: Would like to know too. BTW very nice table. |
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cougar New user 30 Posts |
I am curious what is used to hold the upper part up. I will be building my own table as well, and this is the only part of the table I have not figured out yet. Has anyone used a spring loaded type pin? What works best?
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cupsandballsmagic Inner circle 2705 Posts |
Rich B - Good job!
I just built my first ever project with wood... |
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sobrien Loyal user 248 Posts |
Rich,
Great job very nice! |
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Thanks for the compliments guys.
Cougar...As with the Lefler or most suitcase style tables, there are two little flat clips that pivot outward to prevent the hood from folding down. The spring loaded pins you mentioned does sound nice...but I don't think you have to get that fancy. As a side note, I purchased a used small Mak magic suitcase table. It is similar in design to the Lefler table. I modified the Mak table to include a drawer and 2 bottom cabinet doors and covered it the same black speaker cover material. It looks like the baby brother of the bigger a table I recently built. I completed it on Saturday (1 full day). The bottom line, if you own a suitcase table and you want to have a drawer and cabinet doors on the bottom, it is not very difficult to modify. Rich B. |
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cougar New user 30 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-22 08:40, Rich B. wrote: Thank you! I will start with that and see what I come up with. |
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