How do I lock a table in place that folds up?

Question

I made a table that folds up with a piano hinge in the middle. When you pull either side, it caves down in the middle and folds up. Does anyone know of anything that can be put underneath it that will lock it in place?

Answer 1

screw a board under it to help hold it doing that will help keep it from seperating. note: dont use screws longer then the thickness of the top

Answer 2

You'll need something called a Drop Leaf Support, usually used on drop-leaf desks and tables, but also handy for any folding table. Here are a couple of examples:



http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2319&filter=table%20support

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=775



They simply slide in and out, so you won't need tools to fold your table. The second example requires that you make your own wooden support to slide into the channel. Both are sold in pairs, but depending on how much weight they'll have to bear, you may need more. I'm guessing the apron on your table (if there is one) is split where it folds, in which case the Drop Leaf Support will have to bear any weight that isn't supported by some other locking or support mechanism.



Hope this helps, and happy woodworking!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

just use ordinary hinges on the legs they will stay in position with the weight of worktop but put them on the underside to fold back offset from each other. Another couple hinges on bat-ton fastened to wall