drop down horizontal surface

emerckx | Posted in General Discussion on March 23, 2004 03:27am

I’m building a cabinet to hold the kids computer and related junk. I want to make one door drop down to hold the keyboard, (and hide all the junk when closed). What kind of hinge and support would be best? I’ve seen lid supports, but their purpose is sort of the reverse of what I want to do. Would they work in reverse? Or should I just use some chain or leather straps to keep the surface in the horizontal position?

Any ideas/help appreciated.

Mike

Replies

WayneL5 | Mar 23, 2004 05:36am | #1
Metal brackets can be purchased as shelf supports and they work well. You have to have fairly high quality hinges, too. Keep in mind, though, that the supports don't use large screws, so they can pull out if abused. It might be ok for you, but maybe not for kids.

Leather will streach, and chain will scratch when it's closed. I'd go with the metal before those.

An alternative is pull out bars, like old secretaries had. One pulled out on either side and formed an arm onto which the desk rested.
jackiechan | Mar 23, 2004 05:58am | #2
Mike,

Attach self-adhesive Velcro strips to the underside of the keyboard and to the inside of the door. Us magnetic catches to keep the door shut, and an appropriate hinge to support the door when it's open.

Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
TomMGTC | Mar 23, 2004 02:31pm | #3
If you had a compartment under the keyboard area, maybe for the tower, you could use the door for that area to support the key board shelf. Open the door 90 degrees and drop the shelf on top of it.

Tom

Douglasville, GA
joinerswork | Mar 23, 2004 02:45pm | #4
E,

Ball and Ball Brasses, Exton PA, sells a brass quadrant for drawers with fall fronts which might work for your application. No is J-38, they make two sizes.

It is a 1/4 circle of cast brass with a flange on one end to attach to the end of the drawer front, the other end has a sort of hook to engage with a plate inlet in the side of the drawer, or the case in your instance.

Regards,

Ray
Dave45 | Mar 23, 2004 03:17pm | #5
Dropleaf tables often use wood supports that slide out under the leaf or have a piece of the apron that rotates under the leaf for support. Something like this should handle your keyboard shelf.