Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2022 16:40:18 -0500
Reply-To: "Jim. Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Jim. Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: The Swellegant junior
In-Reply-To: <523875C5-05D5-492C-96E3-A6AECC101A49@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Nicely done, Spacely.
Jim
On Thu, Jul 21, 2022 at 2:46 PM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Yes I’m offering some for sale. I made a few last years and gave away as
> gifts, xmas, etc. gave one to Eric Caron. That batch was painted an
> interesting colour, pink
>
> :-)
>
> Well not pink pink.
>
> Anyway, I made up more components this spring and assembled some. This
> time painted slight textured black.
>
> And I thought I’d try selling a few, with an intro price of $150 Canadian .
>
> Alistair
>
> > On Jul 21, 2022, at 10:17 AM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > So, you are offering them for sale. Price? I expect it is too much to
> be practical, but I have to ask. Probably, for me, I just stick with the
> roll up table that I bought years ago from REI. Made of aluminum slats,
> fits in a bag, adjustable size and height, so can use for dining or for the
> same use you make of your highly satisfying self constructed table mount,
> for which I congratulate you for your creativity, motivation, skill,
> persistence and all that. Good job.
> >
> >> On Thu, Jul 21, 2022 at 8:49 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> >> Yup.
> >>
> >> I have a nice Manfrotto tripod. I use it with the camera. You’d have to
> make an adaotef to get to the m10x1.5 threads in the table. That’s easy
> though.
> >> I’d say go for it with the Manfrotto if you have one.
> >>
> >> There are, no doubt, many other ways of having a table stand. I’ll say
> it again at the risk of being pedantic or even stubborn, I made my table
> stand for my needs. I’m sure it’s not for everyone. But I’m offering them
> for sale just in case there are others out there with good taste.
> >>
> >> :-)
> >>
> >> Cheers
> >>
> >> Alistair
> >>
> >> > On Jul 21, 2022, at 8:34 AM, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > I've seen some people use camera tripods (the aluminum kind),
> adjustable height for table support and photography..
> >> >
> >> >
> https://www.manfrotto.com/global/190go-ms-aluminum-4-section-photo-tripod-with-twist-locks-mt190goa4/
> >> >
> >> >> On Thu, Jul 21, 2022 at 8:27 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
> wrote:
> >> >> Oh yeah Tom, I was ready for the redesign suggestions :-)
> >> >>
> >> >> First, I made the table for my own use, my own set of circumstances
> when camping. I think it’s wise to limit the design brief to a defined set.
> >> >>
> >> >> I understand the scenario you described. What we do is have the
> large table inside , and use the small table on the Swellegant stand
> outside. The stand is a luxury, it’s sitting between our camp chairs.
> Books, binoculars, drinks, nibbles. You get the picture.
> >> >>
> >> >> The quick release idea is interesting. Maybe too interesting . And
> the idea of the legs falling out? Well, way the legs attach right
> now…pinned… works well and defines the amount of splay when deployed. When
> the table is screwed onto the base, it holds the legs securely , the legs
> don’t move if you lift the entire assembly .
> >> >>
> >> >> I’ve tried to make it as simple as possible. For two main reasons.
> First, is I like a simple design. Having as few parts as possible pleases
> me. Second, it’s an expensive thing to make in small numbers. Believe it or
> not, the only part that is “off the shelf”is the m10x1.5 stainless socket
> head bolt that is ( it’s screwed and locktite in the stand) used to attach
> table.
> >> >> The rest…. Legs, feet, main base unit, pins to hold legs… are all
> made by me. ( I really need to buy the 1/4” diameter pins pre cut to length
> and bevelled, it’s a tedious part of the job making those )
> >> >>
> >> >> The base unit is a multi op cnc part. First Op creates the shape and
> features, I cut 3 at a time in one block of stock. The parts cut out of
> that machined stock then flipped and decked to final thickness one at a
> time. counterbored and tapped in same op.
> >> >> Then each part set on edge, pin holes drilled. That’s three holes
> per unit, so in essence three more ops.
> >> >> So the base itself takes 5 ops, five times I have to position part
> in vise.
> >> >>
> >> >> The legs are cut to length on chop saw, set one at a time in cnc
> mill, the angle and the pin hole machined on one end.
> >> >>
> >> >> Legs and base put in the big tumbler for a few hours.
> >> >>
> >> >> The feet are turned on cnc lathe. Made to a press fit in the legs .
> >> >>
> >> >> And the pins, cut to length and beveled , by hand .
> >> >>
> >> >> Parts are powder coated before assembly. That’s not cheap either.
> >> >>
> >> >> So you see, I want to keep the number of machining steps and the
> parts list low as I can. As is it’s an expensive product.
> >> >>
> >> >> Cheers
> >> >>
> >> >> Alistair
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> > On Jul 21, 2022, at 7:52 AM, Tom Myers <tm.me@me.com> wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I’m imagining myself using it.
> >> >> > Bear with me.
> >> >> > This being a Westy product, not ‘general RV'.
> >> >> > ============
> >> >> > We’ve been camped for a little while.
> >> >> > Need for a table outside arises.
> >> >> > Find a place to put all the stuff that’s on the table now (inside).
> >> >> > Which is feasible, but a task that “precedes” the outside plan.
> >> >> > For us - there will be stuff to manage "every time".
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Unscrew the friction knob while balancing the now-empty table.
> >> >> > Carry it outside, screw on the legs fixture, assemble legs
> upside-down.
> >> >> > Set table, load table, sit back.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Then reverse of the above.
> >> >> > Empty the table, flip upside down, disassemble.
> >> >> > carry inside,
> >> >> > find the hole,
> >> >> > balance while screwing.
> >> >> > Set the tightness. Is it tight enough? If Lisa does it, will I
> have to tighten it later? Always?
> >> >> > Stow the table fixture & legs.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I think what I would need to make use of this ——> is a ‘quick
> release’.
> >> >> > Where that CNC block remains on the table inside the westy, and
> with one button/lever, disengages from the Westy L-pipe.
> >> >> > Requiring ’no adjustment/tightness. Just a lever. Like the quick
> release on a bicycle wheel. You adjust it once, and it’s ‘friction'
> remains adjusted upon the subsequent reassembly.
> >> >> > Perhaps you can unclip it from the Westy L bracket…..even with
> some stuff STILL ON THE TABLE as you ferry it outside.
> >> >> > Coming back in
> >> >> > You lift the table with some stuff on it; the legs just wiggle
> out, fall on the ground.
> >> >> > Inside it re-engages the L-bracket in one motion.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > The legs are "just pipes” in a tight little bundle of 3.
> >> >> > Or if you wanna get carried away, 3 diameters that store
> concentrically that you could bundle in a pack of 3 - if you don’t feel
> like inserting them concentrically.
> >> >> > But not 3 different hole sizes that the user has to ‘find' ‘from
> below’.
> >> >> > So now ya gotta have tube-ends all same size so it’s not "a
> puzzle".
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Anyway, sorry for the complete re-design or different product.
> >> >> > You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Tom
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> On Jul 20, 2022, at 8:30 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
> wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I’ll reply to the rad discussion later, I agree with your points
> but have something to add,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Meanwhile, I know you can’t be without this , my late test table
> stand iteration. It’s really very good, it’s swell, it’s elegant, it’s
> Swellegant!
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> And it’s not cheap
> >> >> >>
> https://shufti.blog/2022/07/20/vanagon-the-swellegant-junior-sneak-peek/
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >
>
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