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The Picnic Table

I needed a picnic table to encourage the navigator with the promise of some home comforts whilst out and about. I was thinking about using the rack and attaching the table to it. The fold up chairs fit neatly on the back shelf.
The next problem was how to carry the table when not in use but available at all times if needed.
I then had a lightbulb moment. The side screen bag spends all its life on the garage shelf as I never use it for its intended purpose. If I made a table the same shape to fit it, the table and bag can go under the rack in the normal way still leaving room for the picnic basket on top.
I experimented with a cardboard cut out to see if it gave a worthwhile surface area. The results seemed positive so I moved on and made a table from ½ inch plywood, which seemed to do the trick. I sorted out the fixings (plumbers clips) and a neat arrangement (If I say so myself) of a movable wedge support to adjust the slope of the table.
I completed the table, painted it black and used it all last season. It is now known as the Mk. 1. Senior management was impressed with the new facility and I was surprised by the comments and interest it raised. For most of last summer I kept it on the car in it’s bag. It has proved to be easy to get to, use and then stow away.
The Mk . 2 Picnic Table.
However, the table still looked like a piece of painted plywood despite the addition of a smart Morgan decal (which subsequently peeled off). Having proved the design I wanted something a bit more in keeping with the marque. So it had to be aluminium and ash (What’s not to like?).
The attached photos show the results, which I am very pleased with. The 3mm thick aluminium plate gives a feeling of sturdiness without looking bulky. The underside is brush finished to cover any scratches and the top is bright as bought. However a bright finish is clearly unsustainable and I have quickly resorted to a brush finish on the top as well. No plans as yet to paint it to match the car but that is a possibility. In any case, my car is silver so it blends in quite well. I will use it ‘au naturel’ this season and see how it goes.
The elevating wedge is cut from a piece of 20mm thick ash timber. One edge has some Velcro tape stuck to it to give the adjustability on table elevation when positioned. I have given the wedge a couple of coats of wax, as I like the finish it imparts. There is something about the look of a piece of quality timber with enhanced grain that looks completely satisfactory.

All that remains now is to bring on the sunny afternoons, tea and cakes.

Nice job!
Making a table to clip onto the luggage rack is on my "MOG jobs to do one day" list, but I'd never thought of making it sidescreen shape so that it fits in the bag. That's truly inspired, well done.

Genius.

Brilliant

Well done! As another entrant as soon as I saw it I knew yours should win. A very simple idea....off to the Men in Sheds to knock one up (if you excuse me!)

Did it win?

It did indeed. Large claret jug trophy now on the sideboard!

Well done. Look after that jug!

Congratulations, I'm sure I was parked next to you at Woburn Moth event last year and you had mk1 attached and gave it the thumbs up.

My sidescreen bag has a piece of foam rubber to separate the two halves that pulls out.

Maybe mk3 could replicate & replace that or make a pocket that the metal goes into?