DaveJohansen

My Feedback: (8)

I know I've seen a pic on here before but can't seem to find it now. Anybody have a picture of the field table that is made out of concrete. I remember seeing a pic of one with concrete block legs and concrete top. I want to pitch the idea to my club at the next meeting.

Thanks

Dave

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Those would be plane magnets at my field !

oskartek

Here are some pix at my clubs flying field, we just did these this last summer.
Easy to build, 2x4 lumber forms 3'x6' Five tables need about 1 1/4 yards concrete.
A couple of 5' pieces of 1/2" rebar per table.
Use 1" or 1 1/4 od PVC tubing 12 to 18" long for restraints with black insulation for padding.
Install female fittings in the concrete for the restraints to fit into.
Visqueen on a flat surface with the form on top.
These babies are kind of heavy ( took six of us to lift each one)
They will probably last forever.
We figured some archaelogist will dig them up in six thousand years and
think they were human sacrificial altars.

Happy flyin' Oscar

saramos

What did the cost per table come out to?

Our club is building 13 additional tables to our main pit area this weekend, which currently has 10. Our current design is an all metal frame with what is essentially a hardboard top measuring 4x8. The ones we have now are holding up pretty good. We have the 10 in the main pits and 6 in the park flyer area. We used a store bought workbench style for the heli pits.

Too late for any change now, but we are opening a new second field which is currently completely bare. If the cost makes sense, it would be something for us to look into. Your design look pretty indistructable, low maintenance and should stand the test of time.

Scott

oskartek

Theper tablecost for our tables came out to about $50.00 although the cinder blocks were donated.
We used a local company called Carry- Crete that utilises one and two yard mixers on a trailer,
they add the components at their location and you tow it to your location to pour.
As we have a pavillion with a concrete slab at our airfield we were able to fabricate our tables on site.

Happy flyin', Oscar

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

I guess these have their place depending what part of the country you are in and how your field is set-up. I know in the NE for $50.00 I can build a conventional table with wheels using the synthetic boards and they will last ...well, ....a long ,long time.
To me( jokingly) these concrete tables just look like something you would see at Fred and Barney's flying field !

DaveJohansen

My Feedback: (8)

We spent about $50 a table on basic wood, stained them and now about 2 years later they are starting to break apart. Could never build them here with maintenance free material for $50. Concrete and block type table will last a life time. Just depends how permanent you want them. Found a couple through google images.

tsawyer148

My Feedback: (8)

The field in question that oskartek refers to is on public land and they can't keep the public out. Anything made out of wood could potentially make it's way into a beer bust bonfire. And, since it doesn't sound like you have seen something like this in person, I will say that they are probably the most functional starting tables I have used. The height and width work well for pretty much all types of aircraft and are completely maintenance free. No painting, no splinters, plenty sturdy for what they are used for.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

I've poured yards of concrete and put up hundreds of cinder blocks. Sure those tables will last almost forever but I just don't like the looks of them. After all, concrete is so cold and uninviting where wood is more warm and welcoming !

saramos

Thanks for the info Oscar!

I think they will work out for our new field.

Here's a couple of photo of our park flyer area. These tables are the same design that we use in the main pits.
I'll post a photo of the main pits once the new tables are completed.

Scott

Rotten40851

My Feedback: (2)

Do a search on the Meroke Tables they are great , inexpensive and easy to build. I just built 6 for my field and everyone loves them compared to the picnic tables we use.

topspin

I have seen concrete picknic tables at a couple of places but they are mighty heavy. They use old wire reals at the Mission Bay flying field in San Diego and they work really well. You might be able to get the local power company to donate some for free.

DaveJohansen

My Feedback: (8)

We have the starting benches already, they don't quite cut it for working on a plane. Great for starting. We've tried finding wire spools but here they have a deposit that companies pay. Larger spools can be worth $500.

The idea of a concrete table is that it will still be there years and years later.

Dave