Westfalia

Extended Table

Since the wardrobe door and the table intefere with each other when the table is in the stowed position, something needed to be modified to allow the wardrobe door to open more easily. Some have done this by cutting the lower portion off the door.
As an alternative, I cut a portion off the table. But that could leave a rather short table! There are also times when a longer table would be a benefit - but a longer table will not stow between the fridge cabinet and the wardrobe - unless it is modified somehow.
This modification will change the solid 32"long table to a 39 1/2 long table with a fold-up leaf at each end.
The materials used are:
18mm thick 5 ply plywood - left over T&G flooring, free,
Formica ^TM sheeting contact cemented to the top - left over from kitchen renovation, free,
4 card table hinges, 30mm wide - $25.00, and
T molding - yet to find it!

Click on the image to see it full size.

The Shorter Long Table

Drawing of the Planned Modification. The top drawing shows the original table - 32" by 16 1/4" including the T-molding.
The second drawing shows the 3-piece table with a centre section 25 1/2" by 16 1/4", without T-molding.
The left hand leaf can be a maximum of 7" long to allow the table to swing properly against the stove cabinet. The leaf can be left unfolded when the table is stowed, or folded up to allow the wardrobe door to open.
The right hand leaf can be up to 10" long. It must be folded over during stowage, but when unfolded extends the length of the table.

Drilling for the Hinge
Card table hinges are used because they are flush with the table surface when opened, but allow the leaf to lay flat on top of the main section when folded over. As well they have built-in stops to prevent the leaf from sagging, unless excessive weight is placed on it.
A 30mm diameter Forstner bit drills the rounded portion of the hinge recess. A stop on the drill press is set to drill to the correct depth.
A stop on the drill table centres the drill 20mm from the end of the table.

Cutting the Slot With an engineers square and a very sharp knife, the Formica ^TM is scored at the edges of the 30mm hole.
Then, with a small, very fine saw blade the Formica ^TM is cut out.

Milling the Recess To allow the folding mechanism room to work, a space below the hinge at the outer end is milled deeper.
A stop on the drill press and on the drill table controls this measurement.
The final fit is made with a file.

Ready for Assembly The hinge recess is completed on both the table and the leaf portion. Holes were drilled for the #7 size screws (supplied with the hinges).
The lower hinge will fit into the recess. The upper hinge shows how it looks when folded 180 degrees.

Base Ready for Assembly
Rather than take the steel base plate off the original table, a new base plate was made from 3/4" nylon (another free scrap). The brass threaded piece is countersunk into the top of the nylon circle.
The faint pencil mark "+" shows the centre of the base plate, measurements taken from the original table.
1" screws hold the base plate to the table, the bottom of which is covered with Formica ^TM just for looks.
Not shown is a 4" diameter circle of 1/32" stainless steel which prevents the table arm from biting into the soft nylon.

Mounted Table

The table mounted on the arm and in the stowed position, with the left leaf folded down.
The table looks bowed in these photos. When normal weight is placed on the leaves, they do flatten down.

Mounted Table - leaf up The left leaf folded up allowing the wardrobe door to open.
The edges of the table and leaves have not yet been finished with T-molding.

Extra Length

The new table with the original VW table on top, showing the extra length gained by the left leaf. Actually 2" more could have been added.

Different Seating

The extra length allows the table to be used comfortably by one person sitting on the bench seat and onother on the padded box.
The padded box position is for the cook's assistant!

The owner takes no responsibility for anyone else making these modifications.
Photos provided by owner. Contact the postmaster for permission for use.

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F. Griffiths

Last updated December 5, 2016

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The Shorter Long Table
Drawing of the Planned Modification.	The top drawing shows the original table - 32" by 16 1/4" including the T-molding. The second drawing shows the 3-piece table with a centre section 25 1/2" by 16 1/4", without T-molding. The left hand leaf can be a maximum of 7" long to allow the table to swing properly against the stove cabinet. The leaf can be left unfolded when the table is stowed, or folded up to allow the wardrobe door to open. The right hand leaf can be up to 10" long. It must be folded over during stowage, but when unfolded extends the length of the table.
Drilling for the Hinge	Card table hinges are used because they are flush with the table surface when opened, but allow the leaf to lay flat on top of the main section when folded over. As well they have built-in stops to prevent the leaf from sagging, unless excessive weight is placed on it. A 30mm diameter Forstner bit drills the rounded portion of the hinge recess. A stop on the drill press is set to drill to the correct depth. A stop on the drill table centres the drill 20mm from the end of the table.
Cutting the Slot	With an engineers square and a very sharp knife, the Formica ^TM is scored at the edges of the 30mm hole. Then, with a small, very fine saw blade the Formica ^TM is cut out.
Milling the Recess	To allow the folding mechanism room to work, a space below the hinge at the outer end is milled deeper. A stop on the drill press and on the drill table controls this measurement. The final fit is made with a file.
Ready for Assembly	The hinge recess is completed on both the table and the leaf portion. Holes were drilled for the #7 size screws (supplied with the hinges). The lower hinge will fit into the recess. The upper hinge shows how it looks when folded 180 degrees.
Base Ready for Assembly	Rather than take the steel base plate off the original table, a new base plate was made from 3/4" nylon (another free scrap). The brass threaded piece is countersunk into the top of the nylon circle. The faint pencil mark "+" shows the centre of the base plate, measurements taken from the original table. 1" screws hold the base plate to the table, the bottom of which is covered with Formica ^TM just for looks. Not shown is a 4" diameter circle of 1/32" stainless steel which prevents the table arm from biting into the soft nylon.
Mounted Table	The table mounted on the arm and in the stowed position, with the left leaf folded down. The table looks bowed in these photos. When normal weight is placed on the leaves, they do flatten down.
Mounted Table - leaf up	The left leaf folded up allowing the wardrobe door to open. The edges of the table and leaves have not yet been finished with T-molding.
Extra Length	The new table with the original VW table on top, showing the extra length gained by the left leaf. Actually 2" more could have been added.
Different Seating	The extra length allows the table to be used comfortably by one person sitting on the bench seat and onother on the padded box. The padded box position is for the cook's assistant!