My loooooong BGE table...

DeltaNu1142

Since bringing home my large BGE two weeks ago, I knew I needed a table. I've been staging things on a plastic folding table, which means when I remove the grate or PS, I've got to put it on the ground. I have a spot on the side of my lanai (it's a Florida thing... in Maine we call them "porches") that is almost 10' from the wall of the house to the far side. It's all screened in. So, I took the NW plans and streeeeeetched them out using 8' 2x4s rather than cutting them down to 58". My table measures 94" long by around 26" deep. It's over 32" high, probably closer to 36" between the casters and the bottom 2x4s. I used fir 2x4s for the structure, and clear pine 1x4s for the top & shelf:

Today, I went to HD for one last 2x4 to support the bottom of the table top, and grabbed some stain & spar urethane. Here's how it looks after one coat:

I hate staining. Staining is around #6 on my most hated things list, somewhere below child molesters and anything related to Justin Beiber. I finished coating the top, and then grabbed that folding chair to do the rest. That's when I had an epiphany--because I'd put the casters on already, I could stay stationary and move the table around to reach the parts I needed to stain. After that, it went smoothly... I held the stain cup with my left hand, alternated between a brush and a beer with my right hand, controlled drips with a rag around my right foot, and kicked the table around with my left foot. For about an hour, I was the Neil Peart of staining.

For those keeping track, that's two Canadian references in one post. Had I been drinking Molson, it would have been a hat trick.

Tomorrow, later on this week or next weekend, I'll decide whether I want another coat of stain or to just start applying urethane. Tonight I try my first frozen ribeyes on the BGE.

P.S. - Yes, that is a framed print of Nixon bowling in my garage. My tasteless wife won't let me put it in the house. Pffft.

caliking

Nice table. And dude, you need to post more often. I tried to visualize you doing your staining routine, and busted my gut laughing.

Hi54putty

Good looking table and funny post.

shtgunal3

Looks like you have plenty of room to add another egg or two later down the road.

NPHuskerFL

Monster prep area. Nice table. Any intention on installing a granite inlay in the prep area. I would doubt it since you've went to acrobatics of staining it.

DeltaNu1142

NPHuskerFL said:

Monster prep area. Nice table. Any intention on installing a granite inlay in the prep area. I would doubt it since you've went to acrobatics of staining it.

Actually, yes! I have a 12x24 granite tile I snagged at a flooring place for $15. I had every intention of laying it into the top, but I lost motivation. I figured I could just set it on top for hot stuff/cutting, as needed. I may change my mind.

I forgot to mention, this is really just a temporary table, until I work up the coin for an outdoor kitchen. That involves adding to the existing slab, more pavers, electric, and a drain... so I just need this table to last me a year or two.

cook861

nice table cant waite to see your cooks and your editoral on them 

texaswig

Very nice. Be sure to post up picks of it all setup.

yzzi

Looks great. It's a limo table.

tjosborne

Looking good so far.

hapster

Nice table! If I was on the ground, I might do the same. Up in my deck; I have my large in a nest with handler and a SS table next to it

Hunter1881

Nice table. IMO you will appreciate the extra space. I cut my table to about 5 feet. And now my next project will be a prep table. Enjoy!

Ragtop99

Makes a lot of sense to have the prep area and space.  I'm working off the eggmates and it often feels cramped.

Only place I've heard the term "lanai" is in Hawaii. 

Maccool

NPHuskerFL said:

Monster prep area. Nice table. Any intention on installing a granite inlay in the prep area. I would doubt it since you've went to acrobatics of staining it.

Another solution would be a nice high-density polyethylene cutting board. Pretty reasonably priced, multiple colors, multiple thicknesses, very durable and they can just be hosed off when necessary. You can just lay it on the table and prep away without harming or staining your finished surface.

http://www.cuttingboards.net/custom-sized/?gclid=CMjtloWO8cACFa5cMgodTT0AJQ

Egglovin

Very nice job, cant wait to see the egg loaded and ready to rock

DeltaNu1142

I didn't get the urethane on today. Maybe some night this week. I'd like to load the BGE & attach some tools by next weekend.

grege345

Plenty of room for future eggs. Way to be proactive

DeltaNu1142

I came back to check out some turkey ideas and realized I'd never posted a finished photo. I'm doing a reverse sear on a couple of filets. A daytime photo would probably be better, but I'm lucky I even thought of it now...

Tspud1

Delta, does it get hot under egg? I see legs but nothing else

Bojangles

Clever original post, loved the writing.  

MidModClod

Well done! you can never "over table". But I see your Hat Trick...you just forgot to call it the "Stain-ley Cup"

Railtech

That looks great, love the color!

ChicagoEgghead20

bigger is better. this is great

DeltaNu1142

Tspud1 said:

Delta, does it get hot under egg? I see legs but nothing else

Not that I've noticed. It's the table nest only. There's around 3" of air space under the Egg?

MidModClod said:

Well done! you can never "over table". But I see your Hat Trick...you just forgot to call it the "Stain-ley Cup"

Oooooh, well done.

mtbguy

Nice table, wishing I built a longer table 3 months ago. Then I would have a home for the mini max when it arrives.

johnkitchens

I love the long table. You can't have too much room. Good job. 

Chubbs

Great post. I needed the laughs today Thanks to whoever bumped this post

Toxarch

@DeltaNu1142 Is the egg inside a screened porch? Any issue with the heat out the top and the ceiling above? Discoloration or anything like that?

DeltaNu1142

Yes, it's screened in. And no, no issues with heat or smoke yet that I've noticed. The ceiling is painted off-white and is quite high. There are two ceiling fans up there that I only use when the smoke gets to be too much for SWMBO.

DeltaNu1142

Between the plate setter, the adjustable rig, a couple of stones and now three grids, the lower shelf is getting cluttered. Today, I decided I'd put a drop-down drawer under the top to hold some of that stuff.

I picked up a hinge at HD for the rear of the shelf.



Roughed out a box for the shelf.



I had to move my paper towel holder left, which I think I like better. The drawer will be exactly the width of the span between those two supports. Just enough room to hold things 18" diameter, fortunately.



I'm going to route out a channel in this box for a plywood bottom, then just put it in untreated. The less "finished" I make this table, the more motivated I'll be to put in something permanent.

I have a couple sliding locks to keep the shelf in place in the up (hidden?) position, but I don't really have an idea for limiting its downward swing yet. Rope? Chain? Maybe some lid stay hinges like these:



I should be done with this tomorrow.

DeltaNu1142

Finished the drop-down drawer tonight. It's about what I had in mind. Maybe I'll stain it after all. It's entirely hidden. As long as SWMBO doesn't see me using it... I can put practically anything in there. 

Finished drawer:


Drawer installed, up position:


Drawer installed, down position:


It'll fit a couple of grates, parts of my AR, and a drip pan.