Home made turn table.

[Poink88]

I made this (heavy duty) turntable for about $20.00 and I am very pleased with it.

Over all width is about 14" diameter, w/ 9" wide round ball bearings and about 3/4" high.

- Top is a round polyethylene chopping board - bought from an Asian store for $7.00 (if not available, a rectangular or square piece should work also)
- 750 lb capacity round bearing - bought from Amazon for $10.34 http://www.amazon.com/Capacity-Bear...TF8&colid=2WH8THK6RB5OK&coliid=I2TYQQHPN463EA
- Legs are just stick on rubber pads part of a set bought from Walmart - approximately $1.00
- 4 half inch screws

Just an idea for those who like to tinker like me.
View attachment 40272 View attachment 40273 View attachment 40274

 

[Poink88]

Forgot to mention...the red stuff in the bearing (3rd pic) is excess grease. Very important if you do not want your turntable to squeak later.

 

[Ris]

That's pretty good, only thing is the base or foot should be more wider than the bearing plate for better balance and a way to Hold a certain position. All those can be added if you wish.
Good work man.

 

[jkd2572]

I would think that the base should be almost as wide as the top. Most of the turn tables I have purchased are that way. It would seem this would add to stability. Nice work though.

 

[Anthony]

Dario,

sitting crosslegged on the terrazzo floor using a round headed pouf [ round ottoman], with a length of 1/4 " plywood to turn makes a good lowtech turntable.

A cardboard box is used for smaller trees, to get them to eye level.

Apologies, too cheap to keep purchasing Bonsai thingees. The Japanese will just have to get over our practicality.chuckle
Good Morning
Anthony

 

[Poink88]

Thanks guys. I'll consider the leg (an easy mod) if a problem presents itself. For now it seems sufficient for what I do/use it for.

Anthony, I have an old bar stool I am still using as a turn table. Same concept as yours.

I also have a wooden lazy Susan that warped since it is always getting wet when it (though rarely) rains here as well as wet pots. This is the reason I used polyethylene top.

As shim (for angle change), I use branch cut offs and recently...chopped old rubber slippers. My wife "threw" a tapering one with max thickness of 2" which I think is perfect. LOL If it works for you, that is all that matters. I am actually having fun using these than commercial versions...somehow I get a different satisfaction associated to using them.

 

[Vance Wood]

No one has mentioned this: You have to be careful that the grit in your soil mix does not get inside the mechanism and gum it up, ruining the bearings.

 

[Poink88]

No one has mentioned this: You have to be careful that the grit in your soil mix does not get inside the mechanism and gum it up, ruining the bearings.

Thanks Vance. The bearing mechanism is more "protected" on the mounted side and is open from below but you are correct that it can happen.

I actually planned on routing a channel 1" from the outer edge of the table at the bottom...to prevent water from flowing to the bearing too.

 

[Lazylightningny]

Hey for 20 buck you got you a winner. Modifications can always be made on an as needed basis. Beats the heck out of those $150 jobs on the bonsai web sites. Home made solutions rock.

 

[Anthony]

Dario,

one point and I apologise in advance if I am insulting your intelligence.

When working a tree's design, always have the ability to view it at least 3 times the greatest length of the tree, be it height, width or diagonal.

The idea is, you need to see the whole tree in one glance. Biggest shapes first. Canopy.
Good Morning
Anthony

* My ottoman ain't got no silly ball bearings to clog - chuckle

 

[Poink88]

Anthony,

No insult taken but I am not sure where that came from. We are talking about a turn table here...unless it will cause it to tilt and fall maybe? I missed the connection.

Re: visualizing the final tree...I think (and I may be mistaken) I got that covered. I actually start building my frame smaller, allowing for ramified branches later. I can visualize my target end result overlaid my current tree w/o any problem. The problem (for now on some of my trees) is conceiving that target.

 

[Vance Wood]

Thanks Vance. The bearing mechanism is more "protected" on the mounted side and is open from below but you are correct that it can happen.

I actually planned on routing a channel 1" from the outer edge of the table at the bottom...to prevent water from flowing to the bearing too.

I wouldn't let it get wet or be exposed to a situation where it might get wet. Most ball bearings are only steel and will rust.

 

[Poink88]

I'll take precautions but some of my plants may be placed on the turn table shortly after watering. (always happens actually)

I'll try to secure it when we are expecting rains too. Being so low profile makes it easier to stow as well.

The grease should help reduce rusting also.

Thanks!

 

[mat]

http://www.amazon.com/LapWorks-Swiv...=1377093857&sr=8-2&keywords=monitor+turntable

I've been using these for a few years. Maybe not quite as heavy-duty as yours but about the same price. They stay outside year-round and have not clogged due to dirt in the bearings once. There's a 15" version as well.

Just a suggestion for others looking for a cheap solution.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks Mat. I actually looked at that and considered it but in the end...went with my own build.

Definitely something worth considering.

 

[Lazylightningny]

http://www.amazon.com/LapWorks-Swiv...=1377093857&sr=8-2&keywords=monitor+turntable
I've been using these for a few years. Maybe not quite as heavy-duty as yours but about the same price. They stay outside year-round and have not clogged due to dirt in the bearings once. There's a 15" version as well.

Just a suggestion for others looking for a cheap solution.

actually this is a really decent piece. Holds 330 lbs. I might make a purchase today.

 

[GrimLore]

I have a few from LapWorks Direct - check their prices fist sometimes they are cheaper http://laptopdesk.net/swiv-all-stands.html?gclid=CNTvosbFxbQCFUid4AodAyIAUw

 

[jkd2572]

The lap works looks like it would roll off the table. That's scary.

 

[mat]

The lap works looks like it would roll off the table. That's scary.

It doesn't roll anywhere. Those photos on Amazon's page that show the bearings are taken with the device disassembled. It actually looks pretty much the same from the top or the bottom.

 

[GrimLore]

Thanks Mat. I actually looked at that and considered it but in the end...went with my own build.

Definitely something worth considering.

I must admit I wish I had your ambition