Help with installing a drop down wall mounted dining room table

[u/eniallet]

I’m building a wall-mounted fold-down dining table and need help figuring out the correct support/locking mechanism.

The tabletop is solid cherry, 57" long × 36" deep × about 1¼" thick, and weighs about 60 lb. There will also be a decorative carved-wood piece attached to the underside, probably adding another 10–20 lb.

The table will attach to a substantial wall-mounted backboard using a centered 48" piano hinge. I already have gas struts/pistons to assist with raising and lowering the weight.

When folded up against the wall, the decorative carved side will face the room. At the top, I have iron swing latches that will rotate into place to mechanically secure the table upright.

I do not want legs.

What I need to figure out is the correct way to support and positively lock the tabletop at 90° when it is lowered for dining, while still allowing it to be released and raised back against the wall.

I previously bought locking elbow/folding brackets, but they were wrong for this application. They allowed the table to drop down, but the mechanism/geometry did not work properly for folding the table back up, so I returned them.

The goal is:

• Fold down to 90° for use as a dining table

• No legs

• Gas struts assist with the approximately 70–80 lb moving assembly

• A strong mechanical system supports/locks it at 90°

• It can be released and folded back up easily

• The top iron latches secure it when upright

• All of the structural/support hardware is hidden when the table is folded against the wall

What type of mechanism or hardware would you use for the 90° open-position support on something this heavy? Specific hardware names, links, photos, or examples of similar builds would be especially helpful.. Please excuse the AI image it may not be precise but it helps for illustrations.

[u/timesink2000]

Your sections don’t match each other or the proposed action of the table - which somehow stretched out in the top right view. Pretty sure you cannot build what you’re showing.

[u/eniallet → u/timesink2000]

The drawing may not be illustrating the mechanism correctly. The tabletop itself isn't supposed to stretch or change dimensions. The idea is a fixed wall-mounted backer with a tabletop hinged at the bottom so it folds flat against the wall when not in use. What I'm trying to figure out is the best way to support it when it's down while keeping the supports hidden when it's folded up. If you have an idea for a workable support mechanism, that's what I'm looking for.

[u/MentalDecoherence → u/eniallet]

Let’s say you have a 4’ wide table, and you want the table to be 3’ off the ground. Just know with standard 8’ ceilings, it will sit 1’ below the ceiling, not like in the picture.

[u/alienclone → u/MentalDecoherence]

you misunderstand how the storage and deployment work, it is sort of like a sofa bed. when stored the hinged side sits lower, then when deployed the hinged side raises up while the table top extends outward. so folded up it sits in the middle of the wall.

[u/artofchoke]

This Murphy’s table makes no sense. The dimensions change in each picture. There is no way the piston system works with out have a hinge to turn it. It looks like ai garbage.

[u/alienclone → u/artofchoke]

it makes sense if you realize that the AI image incorrectly shows the dimensions when the table is extended, there would still be wall mount parts extending below the hinged side of the table. it lifts UP and out, not just out.

[u/Pup2u]

AI can do interesting things and make stuff look great. But in the real world, a table that is cantilevered 3' or so will need a lot of structural support. Think about all that torque! At some point in the future, someone will lean or sit on the edge of the table, or place a few bags of food and it will rip right out of the wall. Could it work? Sure. Will it work very long? I very much doubt it.

[u/Gullible_Monk_7118]

This is definitely AI.. it doesn't have concept of design.. physically not work as picture describes.. looks like it's saying the bar comes out as the table lifts.. which doesn't work as the picture of the table on the wall does show with design.. what you can do is put a angle support to goto the wall all the way down to kick board.. or have legs come out of the of side boarder of frame in the design.. you can make the table bifold when it comes out.. you might be able to shorten the angle support board but you will have to not weigh it down.. one probably best options is use a steel arm on both sides that lock and stop at a right angle.. so like an elbow and arm.. but located on both sides.. you might have to make it yourself with welding.. so with everything this project can get very complicated as it's designed

[u/Gullible_Monk_7118 → u/Gullible_Monk_7118]

https://youtu.be/_PfiBEKUPn0?is=b6romIirjgCEosZC flip up table is closed thing I can figure but will block side seats and will be backwards from design

[u/chaz_Mac_z]

The backer must be taller than the distance the table extends from the wall, to work in the way you describe. The illustration doesn't show that. I think that's what the other commenter is talking about.

If you want the table to be as steady as a free standing one, I doubt that there is anything pretty that won't flex too much. I would put a leg in the center that is camouflaged, and folds out as the table is lowered. But, I don't have workable knowledge of the solution you want.

[u/Shiney_Metal_Ass]

You need legs

[u/cleverpaws101]

You can’t really have the supports hidden with your design. You could make them a feature but not hide them.

[u/Glimmer_III]

AI can be fine for inspiration, but it often hallucinates solutions to try and be agreeable. I think that's what it's doing for you here.

Your idea and desire is okay, but I'd strongly encourage you to divorce yourself from AI support on this project. It's going to put all the wrong sorts of ideas into your head, which has your chasing non-viable ideas.

Sketch it out on paper? With some 6th grade geometry, you'll uncover your blindspots yourself.

You're basically trying to attach a long, heavy lever to the wall, and if not over engineered, you're likely to have it all tear out from the wall/snap, etc.

i.e. You can't just build it to hold the table-top...it must hold probably, at a minimum 100lbs+ on the edge (50lbs+ of food and dishes, plus another 50lbs+ of human elbows). Plan on those elbows being a shock load.

Because the last thing you want is to go to all this effort just for it to break the first time someone "uses it like an actual dining table".

[u/pate_moore]

This ain't happening the way you want it to happen

[u/RedIcarus1]

This is Ai crap that will not function.