Table(less) Cloth

Quite some time ago, fungus amungus set forth a challenge to duplicate the design of a "Tablecloth without a Table". Well, after waiting all this time, I finally said "I guess I'll do it, I have to do everything around here grumble grumble grumble..." of course if it has been done and I missed it, boy am I gonna look stupid.

So I present my take on the Table(less) Cloth.

Step 1: Select a Cloth

I didn't have a table cloth that I could make disappear from my wife's purview, and I wanted something with "character". While cleaning out my wife's closet we found this baby blanket, perhaps it has sentimental value, but sentiment can't stand in the way of progress.. It's a little tattered, babies don't respect property...

Step 2: Drape

Before even thinking of stiffening the fabric, we need to make for a "pretty" table. So we need to build a stand that gives a the cloth a pleasant drape, while leaving enough touching the "ground plane" to support the table.

I'm working on top of my table saw, and not wanting the table(less) cloth as a permanent feature, I'm covering everything with plastic.

Step 3: Epoxy

I'm using some US Composites 2 part slow epoxy, it's rather old resin and starting to yellow, fresh would be better but I need the fresh for projects I care about...

When working with epoxy, follow certain common sense procedures, gloves, respirator and for the love of god do not clean your hands with acetone!!!!!

Anyways, mix up about $20 worth of epoxy and saturate the cloth with the epoxy..

Step 4: Squeeze

We don't want to create a drippy nasty table, well maybe we do, but for public consumption we're trying to make something presentable. Therefore we need to squeeze out all the excess epoxy. I used all the clothes that we cleaned out of the closet and were too damaged to give to Goodwill. I just wrapped up the epoxy soaked cloth and walked all over it until I felt the cloth was dry enough.

Step 5: Drape

Finally we can take the cloth and drape it over the stand. Take sometime getting it how you want it, once the epoxy kicks off, it's forever.

Step 6: Lastly

Remove the stand, in my case I simply lifted the Table(less) Cloth off the stand.  Now just pose it with some light weight empty cups like they did in the original, take some pix and wait for the E-fame to roll in.

Comments

[bathsheba_everdene]

Where do you get that much epoxy? And do you know how much it was, volume-wise? This would be nice as a meditation altar with a lightweight artificial candle and things like that on it. I say "artificial" just in case it collapses under too much weight or for whatever reason.

[bendog38]

Sweet. Thats awesome man

[Housedog]

 What's your problem with acetone as a hand cleaner? ;)

[xenobiologista]

That's what I was wondering too, it's the main component in most nail polish removers.

[veeisme]

I'm guessing that epoxy resin and acetone have some kind of horrible chemical reaction that either makes toxic fumes or heat, both of which would be VERY BAD to have happening on your hands.

[mrwolfe]

No, acetone is just a solvent. It doesn't react with epoxy to give of horrible fumes.

Exposure to acetone, as with most things, is a matter of degree. Nail polish remover only contains a small amount of acetone - from memory it's about 30% - and you don't usually put it all over your hands.

Apart from its use as an industrial solvent, acetone is commonly used to kill fungus in house timbers.  It's also highly flammable, so enclosed spaces, acetone and naked flames are not a good mix.

Acetone vapour is not at all good to breathe in for extended lengths of time either and apart from intoxication, extended exposure can result in emphysema.  We are talking about breathing the stuff for hours each day over years here, though.  As for being a carcinogen, I'm not sure.  Everything it seems is carcinogenic in the right concentrations.

That all said, using a rag dipped in acetone to clean your hands won't hurt you if you do it rarely, and in the open.  Not at all a good thing to do on a daily basis however.

Apart from that, I hate having sticky hands, so gloves are the go I think.

[nerocon]

I had the same question and did some reasearch, the theroy goes that the Acetone will strip away the oil's on your skin allowing bad chemicals from the hardener to pass into your system easier. It has been known for some to become extremely sensitive to epoxy after such exposure.

Some also think acetone is a carcinogen, but heh what is not these days? I have also heard the carcinogen claims started to help curb the amphetamine problem as it is a key chem in the preparation of methamphetamine.

I personally have never used gloves, or a mask to use epoxy or acetone.. Just use common sense and don't stir it with your fingers or something. Also if you get some on you, wipe it off sooner rather then later then clean up with a just a tiny amount of solvent, don't pour it over your skin. If your going to be exposed for an extended period of time to the epoxy or whatever, yeah then its a good idea to get a respirator, and gloves, and probably even a tyvek suit, but for quick small jobs meh, just be careful.

[LittleWolf]

So methamphetamines are acceptable, but not if carcinogenics are involved; you wouldn't want to put your health at risk!

[nerocon]

lol, guess I should of elaborated on that a bit.. What I meant was the carcinogen claims started about acetone so it was easier to get it pulled from many store shelves. Since it is not regulated like a drug it is hard to control the sale, but if you get enough to think it causes cancer stores wont sell it on their own accord. Personally, I figure whatever works.. I am happy to deal with a lack of a few specific chemicals if it helps slow down the creation of meth, it is an awful drug. The little town I grew up in has been ravaged pretty bad.. It was hard to watch so many of my friends go down that path.

[nerocon]

I should also note, this is all rumor and hearsay as I do not think there are any real studies into if acetone is a carcinogen. But the meth problem is very real, so like I said.. whatever works.

[LittleWolf]

When I lived in Portland, OR, we had this problem with "Meth Vans" basically making neighborhood rounds more often than the ice cream car ever did.

Here in Wisconsin is more or less obscene amounts drunk driving and really really boring anecdotes about the Green Bay Packers than just makes you want to shoot yourself in the head.

[nerocon]

oh yeah, and ventilation! always, always, always properly ventilate your workspace for epoxy or any other harsh substance and the cleanup process. Those fumes are definitely something to really worry about.

[draraman]

 very clever and yet so simple.
I suppose we could make it strong enough to withstand some plates, glasses and a couple of paperbacks.
Well done .... this is original and ingenious.

[hohum]

very coool,  maybe add some low wattage lights inside, and a rheostat, make a great wall art project, great instructable, good pictures, easy to understand

[smav]

really funny! I love it!

[Questor]

what if you put some LEDS or a low wattage light under it ???

[Cotb]

How does it not glue itself to the stand? Hmmm. I take your word (and pictures) that it doesn't, certainly, but still wonder...

[Tool Using Animal]

Everything is covered in polyethylene plastic, epoxy doesn't stick to it.

[Cotb]

Didn't know that. Thanks!

[AT]

Great idea.  It looks good in the pictures, how does it look in real life?