Step one. Bought the van.
Hello Everybody, First post. I camp a lot in tents but after spending three days straight in a tent in the rain at Dolly Sods I swore I'd make a change. Here it is. Bought it Wednesday. Dro...
Forum Discussion
Sofa-bed continued:
Next to add is another 1-1/2" angle. The Seat Platform will be bolted to the horizontal part of the angle. The square tube will drive this metal angle back and forth.
Cut the angle so it's length is the same as the Seat Platform width, 21".
As I'm working on the Center Support it's lying on the workbench so what will be UP on the final install is on the left here. In this picture I'm calling the new angle "Seat Angle". I'm aligning the seat angle so it's just a little bit to the left (above) of the top angle. As the Seat Platform is moved back and forth it will drag across the top angle which is stationary. By raising the seat angle in relation to the top angle it should help reduce that drag.
Use the caliper to keep that alignment constant along the length of the seat angle and the square tube. Clamp the angle and tube together.
Now it gets interesting. I have to bolt the seat angle to the square tube. Problem is the bolts can't go all the way through the tube. Otherwise as the tube slides their heads would engage the bolts that hold the top angle in place. To get around this problem I'll have to work the bolts from within the center of the square tube. This take a little prep work.
I'll be using 1/4" bolts which have a 7/16" size heads. A 7/16" socket is interchangeable with a 11mm metric socket. So find some metric sockets I'm not too worried about. Happen to have a set right here.
The 11mm socket is too large as is. Need to make it smaller. Use the bench grinder.
Note: If you're planning on having an MRI anytime soon and doing any grinding, wear full face protection, not just safety glasses. Don't ask me how I know.
By the time I'm done grinding it will just be thick enough to hold a nut.
Here's the difference between the ground down 11mm and the 10mm and 12mm sockets.
Drill the first of the five holes I'm going to need through the new angle. Line the hole up with one of the tube's perforations.
To install a bolt through the newly drilled hole I'm going to need a few tools. First up a flexible grabber.
Grab a 1/2" long bolt with the business end of the tool.
Slide the bolt through the center of the square tube.
Use the grabber to work the bolt through the drilled hole.
Gently start the nut onto the bolt. If you tighten the nut the grabber won't let go.
Extract the grabber tool. Next up a flexible tool with a magnetic holder at the end.
The socket is too big for the grabber to hold so I'm using the magnetic tool.
Use the magnetic tool to slide the socket into the tube. Notice that even with the grinding the socket doesn't have a lot a clearance. It still has to fit over the head of the bolt inside the tube. Tight fit.
Line up the socket with the tube hole above the bolt head.
You need a socket extension to maneuver the socket inside the tube. Move the socket around until it's on the bolt head.
Then use the socket and and a wrench to tighten the bolt and nut.
Remove the magnetic holder with the socket and drill the hole for the next bolt. Once a bolt has been inserted into the square tube you can't easily work past it. So you have to work from the center of the tube outward.
Add a total of five bolts.
continued -
Next to add is another 1-1/2" angle. The Seat Platform will be bolted to the horizontal part of the angle. The square tube will drive this metal angle back and forth.
Cut the angle so it's length is the same as the Seat Platform width, 21".
As I'm working on the Center Support it's lying on the workbench so what will be UP on the final install is on the left here. In this picture I'm calling the new angle "Seat Angle". I'm aligning the seat angle so it's just a little bit to the left (above) of the top angle. As the Seat Platform is moved back and forth it will drag across the top angle which is stationary. By raising the seat angle in relation to the top angle it should help reduce that drag.
Use the caliper to keep that alignment constant along the length of the seat angle and the square tube. Clamp the angle and tube together.
Now it gets interesting. I have to bolt the seat angle to the square tube. Problem is the bolts can't go all the way through the tube. Otherwise as the tube slides their heads would engage the bolts that hold the top angle in place. To get around this problem I'll have to work the bolts from within the center of the square tube. This take a little prep work.
I'll be using 1/4" bolts which have a 7/16" size heads. A 7/16" socket is interchangeable with a 11mm metric socket. So find some metric sockets I'm not too worried about. Happen to have a set right here.
The 11mm socket is too large as is. Need to make it smaller. Use the bench grinder.
Note: If you're planning on having an MRI anytime soon and doing any grinding, wear full face protection, not just safety glasses. Don't ask me how I know.
By the time I'm done grinding it will just be thick enough to hold a nut.
Here's the difference between the ground down 11mm and the 10mm and 12mm sockets.
Drill the first of the five holes I'm going to need through the new angle. Line the hole up with one of the tube's perforations.
To install a bolt through the newly drilled hole I'm going to need a few tools. First up a flexible grabber.
Grab a 1/2" long bolt with the business end of the tool.
Slide the bolt through the center of the square tube.
Use the grabber to work the bolt through the drilled hole.
Gently start the nut onto the bolt. If you tighten the nut the grabber won't let go.
Extract the grabber tool. Next up a flexible tool with a magnetic holder at the end.
The socket is too big for the grabber to hold so I'm using the magnetic tool.
Use the magnetic tool to slide the socket into the tube. Notice that even with the grinding the socket doesn't have a lot a clearance. It still has to fit over the head of the bolt inside the tube. Tight fit.
Line up the socket with the tube hole above the bolt head.
You need a socket extension to maneuver the socket inside the tube. Move the socket around until it's on the bolt head.
Then use the socket and and a wrench to tighten the bolt and nut.
Remove the magnetic holder with the socket and drill the hole for the next bolt. Once a bolt has been inserted into the square tube you can't easily work past it. So you have to work from the center of the tube outward.
Add a total of five bolts.
continued -
