Hemnes Lift-top Coffee Table
Materials: Hemnes Table, lift-top hinge
Description: Lift-top functionality allows your coffee table to raise up and move closer to you, which is useful for eating on your coffee table. I wanted to add this to my new Hemnes.
I ordered a set of lift-top hinges from AliExpress for about $30 shipped from China (~3 weeks to arrive). Similar hinges are available in the US from woodworking suppliers, but they are very expensive for some reason.
The hinges are about 4" tall when closed, so I had to add some supports to provide an adequate mounting location for the bottom portion of the hinges. I made the supports from 1x5" board, cut with a jigsaw. To hide them from sight, I cut the supports 45 degrees at one end and ~30 degrees on the other. They are asymmetrical because I wanted to attach the hinge to the center of the tabletop, which required the bottom part of the hinge to mount closer to the edge of the table.
The 1x5 boards were attached to lengths of 3/4" square dowel, and the whole assembly was screwed into the top rail of the Hemnes. I doubled up the 1x5's because of the small 3/4" mounting area - probably overkill, but there was enough wood in a single board to do it.
The lift-top mechanism is surprisingly stable and smooth - the supplied springs make it almost effortless to lift as you pull towards you. It raises about 5.5" and comes toward you about 8". I had been concerned that the size of the tabletop would be an issue, but it seems fine so far.
The supports don't interfere much with the use of the bottom shelf of the Hemnes. You could also add a bottom to make a shelf or hidden storage area out of the supports. While I had the drill out, I also added some screws to stabilize the wobbly lower shelf of the Hemnes.
Total cost is just under $150 - I got the Hemnes on sale for $100.
~ Adam Berson, Hoboken NJ
I think this is cool, but I also think you should have painted the surface of the parts that would be covered when it is "closed". Otherwise, nicely done!
ReplyDeleteI agree - this is the next logical step. Ikea doesn't sell the grey-brown stain, but could probably find something at the hardware store. In any case, it's so hidden when closed that it would be almost like painting the underside of a table.
DeleteThe supporting wood also needs to be sanded so your toes don't find a sharp edge underneath the table, but I had made enough dust in my apartment with the jigsaw for one day, so I skipped to final assembly. Maybe I'll revise at some point.
I've been curious about these tables. It's nice to see I can make one myself for little money & finish it the color I like. I think it would be an awesome place to hide my laptop when I'm not at home.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I was planning to do one someday.
ReplyDeleteCan you post more detailled pictures/drawing of the attach assembly for the lift-top system?
The hinge I used is made by JZH and it's model C03. There are other models that use gas struts rather than springs.
DeleteThere's a drawing here with measurements in millimeters:
http://i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/548/392/496/496392548_890.jpg
What's not evident from the drawing is that in the closed-position, the top portion of the hinge is above the bottom portion - they are not horizontally adjacent or even touching. Here's a close-up:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7m_8e-3_7dnTDItcHg2Ym5uczQ/edit?usp=sharing
Thansk a lot, but i was more interested in the supports of the hinge system than the system itself. Do you have any blueprints for the supports?
DeleteNo blueprint, sorry - I literally drew an idea on the back of an envelope then just laid it out on the wood as I went.
DeleteI did a quick sketch for you here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7m_8e-3_7dnb09hQ2w4WlRLYnc/edit?usp=sharing
You could do a MUCH simpler version of this with some metal brackets and just square cut pieces of wood, but since the hemnes wood is so soft, I wanted to spread out the support for where I attached my wooden brackets, and I wanted the supports to be as hidden as possible when viewed from other angles, which is why I went this route.
i like the project, but what is not understandable to me is the reason why you have to eat at a COFFEE table
ReplyDeleteIf you live in a small apartment and don't have a table to dine on, this is a great alternative...
DeleteCome on ... sometimes you have to do that cave-man-thing... lol, i like that! Good job!
DeleteIs there any type of hinge I can use to make this that will make the table top go straight up?
ReplyDeleteI saw another one on Ikeahacker that used the lift mechanism from a desk chair. Only problem is it required a whole person's weight to get it to lower down again. I think somebody suggested there might be lift mechanisms for adjustable height desks which need less force.
DeleteNice job, but do those lift tops stick in place when lifted? I mean, if I wanted to use a laptop on it, does the raised top stand still?
ReplyDelete