I need to make a small stool out of 3/4 plywood stock with folding legs. The
top will be about 13"X18" and the legs about 7" tall. I want the legs to
fold inward and flat when not in use but swing out at 90 degrees, AND LOCK,
when the stool is set up. Is there such a hinge? I tried looking at some
"bulter tray" hinges but they all start at 180 degrees and then go to 90. I
need a hinge that goes from 0 degrees to 90. The other thing I considered
was using somehow pinning the legs when they are at 90 (open) but I don't
know what I'd use. Help appreciated.

On 10/7/2012 7:06 PM, Christina Johansson wrote:
I need to make a small stool out of 3/4 plywood stock with folding legs.
The
top will be about 13"X15" and the legs about 7" tall. I want the legs
to
fold inward and flat when not in use but swing out at 90 degrees, AND
LOCK,
when the stool is set up. Is there such a hinge? I tried looking at
some
"bulter tray" hinges but they all start at 180 degrees and then go to
90. I
need a hinge that goes from 0 degrees to 90. The other thing I
considered
was using somehow pinning the legs when they are at 90 (open) but I
don't
know what I'd use. Help appreciated.

I use these or the folding legs on my table saw outfeed table:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9993

..... and have used these on smaller tables:

http://www.constantines.com/foldingl...etssetof4.aspx


--
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Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

Christina Johansson wrote:


I need to make a small stool out of 3/4 plywood stock with folding legs.
The
top will be about 13"X15" and the legs about 7" tall. I want the legs
to
fold inward and flat when not in use but swing out at 90 degrees, AND
LOCK,
when the stool is set up. Is there such a hinge? I tried looking at
some
"bulter tray" hinges but they all start at 180 degrees and then go to
90. I
need a hinge that goes from 0 degrees to 90. The other thing I
considered
was using somehow pinning the legs when they are at 90 (open) but I
don't
know what I'd use. Help appreciated.






I made a coffee table for my daughter, and as she was moving a lot, I made
the legs to fold up and also lock down into position. What I did was to use
a batten across the table and capture two "T" nuts in the batten and had
screws go through the stretcher on the legs, which are not much over 7",
and screw into the captured "T" nuts.

For what its worth.

Deb

In article ,
Christina Johansson wrote:

I need to make a small stool out of 3/4 plywood stock with folding legs.
The
top will be about 13"X15" and the legs about 7" tall. I want the legs
to
fold inward and flat when not in use but swing out at 90 degrees, AND
LOCK,
when the stool is set up. Is there such a hinge? I tried looking at
some
"bulter tray" hinges but they all start at 180 degrees and then go to
90. I
need a hinge that goes from 0 degrees to 90. The other thing I
considered
was using somehow pinning the legs when they are at 90 (open) but I
don't
know what I'd use. Help appreciated.


I assume that the stool will have 2 "legs" each actually taking the place
of 2 individual legs. Sort of like an upside down U shape.

If you make the legs open to somewhat past 90 degrees, so they are splayed
when open, the stool will be more stable and you can control the angle
simply by cutting a bevel on the edge of the leg that butts against the
top of the stool when in the open position. You can use common butt
hinges too. A small chain or cable connecting the 2 legs will keep them
from opening too far or spreading apart under load.


________________
/ \
/ \


Each leg half looks something like this:

________
/ \
/ ____ \
/ / \ \
/___/ \___\


--
There is always an easy solution to every human problem -- neat,
plausible, and wrong." (H L Mencken)

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar. org