This stand is the result of a request from a Landscape Architecture friend.  The site models the students made were difficult for everyone to see laying flat during critiques. Could I make a stand that would hold the models vertically?  More of the story, photos, and a refined version posted on my blog HERE.

4D

 

Like the "L" shaped legs/feet!

The very definition of simple elegance.

38 minutes ago, lew said:

Like the "L" shaped legs/feet!

Thanks lew.  What many furniture designs don't realize is that legs can have "feet".  We bipeds don't need a 3rd leg like most easels/tripods have to stand up.

This design opportunity threw me back to one of the first woodworking projects I made.  It was a chess board table with L shaped legs that folded up. Two legs (with feet) were simpler to manage than 4 legs. 

4D 

36 minutes ago, Thad said:

The very definition of simple elegance.

Thanks Thad.  The photo was taken just a week or so ago when no classes are being held.   During a normal semester of classes a walk down the hallways will find many in use with either landscape or architecture class site models on them.  I don't think anyone still working there knows they are my original design.  Over time I made two small production runs of 15 each. A few years later I saw a student helper examining on in the college shop space.  He'd been tasked with making some more of them. I realized then that whomever asked him to do that didn't know I'd designed them. 

4D 

Timely.   I'm kicking around a lightweight set of trestle table supports for farm market displays. 20" x 30" may be the table, want it on the high side, need bottom-heavy stability . . . 

A-frames are naturally bottom-heavy.  More so with the weight of the feet.  My oak version shown on my blog has the legs tapered. Widest/heaviest at the bottom. Put a big panel/sign at the top and a gust of wind could blow them over though.   Level the top of the feet so you can throw a sand bag over each and you might have a winner.    

4D

Woke up this morning with a design option idea.  Change the L sides to tall trapezoids. Hinge at the top. Add a shelf on both sides and you have a double sided sign/model display. Throw some sandbag/weight across the bottom stretchers for wind resistance.  Quick render of one side from my CNC software. 

 

4D

Edited July 27, 20224 yr by 4DThinker

In your first picture, if you only have glue holding the legs and the feet together you might have a problem later on.

6 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

In your first picture, if you only have glue holding the legs and the feet together you might have a problem later on.

True.  What I did was cut 1' deep slots in the side of the leg and the end of the foot for a floating 3" x 2" x 3/8" plywood tenon.  Those stands have been around for at least 15 years now with no failure. 

4D

 Thats what I wanted you to say for lots of folks don't know that sort of a glue job has to have lots of help if it to stand the kids of today!!!!

Kids of today are pretty much the same as kids of the last several decades related to destructive power.  The floating tenon was already mentioned in the text of my blog post. Plywood edge to plywood edge never makes a good butt joint. A spline, or biscuits, or dowels, or dominos is always recommended.  For the legs of those stands even more strength is recommended between feet and legs given they hold up the entire stand and whatever is on it. 

4D