Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:04:26 -0500
Reply-To: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Table leg modification (Loren Bush)
In-Reply-To: <20070625154914.UQOE29003.fed1rmmtai106.cox.net@fed1rmimpi05.cox.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
> From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
> Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:59:21 -0700
>
> BTW, I've given up trying to find a plastic ferrel or insert for that
> top hole. I'd love to find something like the plastic inserts that
> are used in desks for the pass through for computer cables, etc. that
> would fit. That would cover the flaked of part and tighten the fit at
> the top a little better.
How about a nylon bushing? These get used inside control panels and
electrical equipment when wires have to pass through a sheet metal
panel. They are designed with little tabs to lock against the sheet
metal, but picking the right diameter and/or a little glue would
probably make them fit pretty well in the hole in the Westy woodwork.
They are usually black. Some examples:
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/630/1528.pdf
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/630/1535.pdf
Mouser will sell in small quantities, and some of these are probably
available locally at an electrical distributor. These tend to be
somewhat regional; look in the phone book for "electrical supplies,
wholesale" or ask any electricians, plumbers, HVAC servicers, phone+
network cabling installers, etc that you know. These places do not
always want to do retail, though.
You might be able to find a ready-made flanged sleeve bearing that will
work. McMaster-Carr has some on p. 1075 of their catalog
( http://www.mcmaster.com/ ) in metric sizes, but at rather amazing
prices. Otherwise, maybe you could make one out of some nylon tubing
(p. 3455) - this wouldn't have the flange on the top, but perhaps you
could cover that up with a big plastic washer (p. 3136 or so.) Or, get
some really thin plastic maybe 0.5" wide by 3" long (13 mm x 75 mm) and
bend it into a ring to fit inside the hole. A local plastics distributor
may be able to help you here.
Caplugs ( http://www.caplugs.com/ ) may also have some suitable
products. Their EP series plugs
http://www.caplugs.com/catalog/starpage.asp?seriesID=22&classid=222
don't have holes in them, but if you can find one with the right outside
diamter, you could cut a hole to suit the table leg. This series only
comes in stylee bright yellow. Polyethylene isn't exactly the right
material for this but it probably doesn't matter. They also sell a few
grommets that might work:
http://www.caplugs.com/catalog/starpage.asp?seriesID=29&classid=420
Caplugs also links to some bushings by Niagara Plastics that might do
what you want. These are similar to the nylon bushings above
http://www.niagaracapsandplugs.com/prodbushings.asp?site=snap_sb.htm
and these are slit, so they might be able to fit better in a hole that's
slightly the wrong size:
http://www.niagaracapsandplugs.com/prodbushings.asp?site=open_ocb.htm
Caplugs and Niagara have really large "standard" quantities, but both of
them claim to have sample programs where you can small quantities of
different parts at low cost. If you use this they probably unleash an
attack salesman on you, though. :)
Another option might be to go to your local hardware store and find the
shelf where they sell the felt for the bottom of table lamps, rubber
bumpers for the bottom of appliances, etc. You might be able to find
some hard rubber bumpers that could be glued onto the vertical edge of
the hole to center up the table leg in the hole. You might have to buy
some that are taller than you need and then work on them with a round
file to get them to clear the table leg. Again, this doesn't pretty
up the top surface, but you might be able to find a big washer to do
that.
Standard disclaimers apply; I don't get money or other consideration
from any companies mentioned.
Matt Roberds
