Laptop End Table - Real Cool

[Randy Long]

Hi,
I use a laptop computer while sitting and reclining in my LazyBoy chair but I got tired of constantly moving the laptop from an end table and back every time I wanted to move.

So, I build this.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-1-008.JPG

When I want to use the Laptop.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-1-007.JPG

The table top shown in the picture above was my prototype, I have since rebuilt it with walnut.

These picture are of a table I built for a friend.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-2-004.JPG
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-2-005.JPG

[Joe Marotta]

Great job!

As someone who does quite a bit of work on a laptop from home, you have my creative juices flowing...

I may just have to take a stab at making one like it. Any hints/lessons learned?

[Jim Becker]

Excellent idea!

[Mike Goetzke]

That is a real neat idea. Nice design too.

Just as a caution - I read somewhere that someone left their laptop on a table overnight and it actually ruined the wood and finish. Maybe your doesn't get too hot. FYI, last week I bought a Targus laptop cooler. It's about 1/2" thick and sits under the computer. It has two fans that run off a USB port and exhaust at the rear.

Mike

[Corey Hallagan]

Great idea and design. I like that alot. Very nice!

corey

[Lawrence Harris]

As someone who may be going in for knee surgery in the next month I was looking for something like this. I may even attempt to build something similar. Can you tell me how you did the swing top? I suspect a lazy susan type bearing but from the pictures it looks swings out and around.

Thanks, Lawrence

[Chris Padilla]

Sweet design!! Excellent execution!! Dave "Sketch-up" Richards, you out there...you will need to pay attention to the details Randy provides and give all of us some nice detailed plans!! :D

[Erik Rudd]

I'd love to know what hardware you used for the swivel action.

[Dave Richards]

Chris, I'll watch for the details and draw something soon. Right now I'm working on a drawing of the WoodRat with the new digital scales on it.

Besides, I know you're just trying to distract me from my tablesaw thing. :D

Randy, that is a great idea for a laptop desk. If you want to send me dimensions via a PM, I'll see what I can do about generating a plan for these other armchair laptop drivers. ;)

[Jeff Horton]

Yes now that is ingenous! I sometime take mne to the couch and browse Ebay while the LOML watches TV. I can appreciate that!

[Randy Long]

Hi,
I'll whip something up to help anser your questions

[Randy Long]

Key design aspects
Height
The height is very important and should be based on the chair. With reclining chairs your knees rise as you recline. I work in the leg rest up and in the half reclined position. The height should be set so that your knees will come very close to touching the underside of the top.

Leg Feet – As I call them
As you can see in the pictures these feet extend towards the chair. These are needed to stabilize the table when the top is swiveled and has the weight of the laptop and your hands. The low profile of these feet are for 2 reasons. 1, the foot closest to the chair should be able to slide under the chair for support. 2, The other foot with a low profile makes it less like the you will trip over or stub your toe. 3, When you vacuum the vacuum clearer can ride up on it rather then bump into it leaving marks.

Table-top Sizing & Pivoting Position

If you look at the pictures you might notice that the short leg section is cut, there is a piano hinge on the under side so the laptop section can tilt down and rest on your legs. The tilting section should be sized to fit your laptop and extends 5” towards the seated user and around the chair arm. The pivoting point is the trickiest thing about this project. I have found that this point is the equidistance to the side and to the front of the armchair chair arm outside corner, the shorter distance the better.





More to come - need sleep now.

[Chris Padilla]

Thanks, Randy...we need some more pics, however! :D

[Randy Long]

I'm working on drawings but I can post more Pictures as well. I know how helpfull they are. :-)

[John Scarpa]

Randy, I like this alot. You obviously spent sginificant time thinking out the desgin criteria. I think this one is going to be poplular!

[Frank Howell]

Fantastic design. Really love it! Great timbers too.

[Randy Long]

Hi,
Sorry it took so long. Time is something I seem to be short of.

Ok. I have attached a PDF file of a drawing of the table I use. I have designed and made smaller ones. One of the things to keep in mind is that this is sort of a balencing act and when the top pivots the back corrner swings out quite a distance.

Today I'll work on getting some informative pictures if the pivot.

Those of you that have been racking your brain trying to figure out how I make the pivot, please don't hate me when I show you.

I like to go by the moto "Keep it Simple"!

More to come.

Randy

[Randy Long]

Hi,
Here is a picture of the Hinge and latch.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-2-009.jpg

[Dennis Peacock]

Very nice design and very well done. just keep posting ideas, some of us could use them. ;)

[Jason Tuinstra]

Very handy solution. Great idea.

[Mark Patoka]

That is definitely one useful idea. Very good workmanship on the project also.

[Randy Long]

Hi,
As promised, here are 2 picture of the latest pivot design that I use in these tables.
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-3-001.JPG
http://home.wi.rr.com/rlongroot/projects/Laptop-Table-3-002.JPG

In my earlyer laptop tables ( like the original ), I use only the Hinge without the aluminum angle to take the strain off.

[Erik Rudd]

Hate you: No.

Admire your idea: Yes, very much.:cool:

[Randy Long]

Hi,
This is the one design idea that I have been reluctent so openly post, so for the of you out there that build one of these, I expect that you will in turn post or send me pictures and design changes that you make for your self.

Concider it my comission for my design ideas.

So who out there is planning on building one?

I'm just dieing to see what some real craftsman can do with my idea!

[Randy Long]

So who's going to build one of these?

[Chris Padilla]

It is probably on the list, Randy, but, please, do not hold your breath! We don't want you kicking the bucket too early...we'll want some more cool ideas out of you! :D

[Jim Verb]

I have been searching the internet for something like this. and it sounds like I've finally found what I'm looking for. Except for the fact I can't see the pictures. I've sent Randy a message with no response. Anybody have a pic of this or something similiar.
Thanks
Jim

[Scott Hildenbrand]

Considering the OP is from 3 YEARS ago, it's hard to say WHERE they're at.. Things just don't last long on the Internet, ya know?

Google be thy friend.
http://images.google.com/images?q=laptop+table

[/URL]http://randylong.name/woodworking/lap_top_table.html (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=laptop)

[url]http://randylong.name/images/projects/Laptop-Table-Drawing-1.pdf

http://randylong.name/images/projects/LaptopTable-02.jpg