How can I make an adjustable height wheelchair work table?

Question

It is going to be used as a planting table for wheel chair students in a greenhouse. It will be about 36" wide, 72" long, and adjustable from 29" to 36" high. I need ideas on how to make it adjust safely, easily and inexpensively. I plan on having 3 of these tables next to each other for a total length of about 18'.

Answer 1

Buy an adjustable height drafting board....there are many of them that are available in used condition for about $150 or less.

Answer 2

Make the legs as an X-brace at each end of the table. The X-brace attaches to a piece of angle-iron running front-to-back on the underside of the table end. At the back end, this is done with a bolt through a hole in the angle iron. At the front end, the angle iron is cut in a sawtooth series of notches and the x-brace has a bolt through it that fits into the sawtooth for adjustment. Also put about 8" of chain between the front leg and the tabletop, or another rail that captures the bolt, so that the x-brace can't completely disengage and let the table collapse. A decent carpenter (which I'm not) could probably do the whole thing in wood except for the pivot bolts.

Answer 3

Wow that's wide!

The legs of the table have a nasty habit of getting in the way unless they are on the very end, or eliminated.

Some options would be:

Suspend tables from chains

Table legs consisting of two tubes each, one that fits inside the other. Drill though both tubes, then just lift and slip a pin in place.

Think 'ladders and boards' shelving. Make the legs an open frame with crossbars for the tops to rest in.

Mega-cheat: plain legs and spacer blocks to put under the feet.

Answer 4

I have back problems too due to upper and lower back injuries. I have never had an adjustable desk. But, I do have an adjustable chair with arms, lumbar support. The chair was special measured to my height so the lumbar support would be in the perfect spot. And, I had a foot rest under my desk. Now, I'm sorry to say, I don't know where to order this fabulous chair. The office I worked for ordered it for my desk and had it ready for me the last time I was hospitalized with my back problems. They had gotten my measurements from the hospital therapist! Boy, was I surprised. I do know for a fact that they ordered it, so you could most likely find one in any office furniture catalog. Good luck.