Covering or replacing twisted iron bars?

[Jeff Richardson]

Since I'm going to make an actual plastic laminate (Formica) covered countertop for my kitchen cabinet I will have to make a new upper cabinet support, which I believe is the purpose of the twisted iron bars.

I will probably use two 1-inch square steel tubes or maybe splurge and use stainless steel which I can polish or brush. (Oooh, I like that idea!)

The hollow tubes will allow me to run wires through them up into the upper cabinet for computer sound system speakers that I will mount on both ends of the upper cabinet. The sub-woofer/amp unit is in the cabinet under the sink. I will also run 12 volt or 120 volt wiring through one of the tubes if necessary.

I will weld cross bars between the vertical tubes for a TV swing arm mount. This is my favorite place to mount a TV. No holes are drilled into any cabinets. I can watch TV in bed or swing the TV towards the kitchen or front couch.

The 22-inch TV I use on the road is the one I use in my bedroom at home. I just put it in the original box when travelling and mount it on the swing arm when stopped. I haven't had time to figure out a way to keep it from swinging when travelling. I have the same swing arm on the wall at home.

I might even bolt another swing arm on the backside of the first one and mount a 19-inch computer monitor over the sink for TV watching and computer work at the same time. The laptop will be in the closet and only a wireless keyboard and mouse will be seen.

In the slightly out-of-focus picture below you can see how I made a quick bracket to mount the Sanus Systems MF215-B1 wall mount on the existing twisted bars support. I made it out of 1/8-inch thick steel bar stock. I was enjoying my first bowl of cereal with ice cold milk from my newly installed Dometic 2193 refrigerator last year.

I plan on working on the kitchen area of my Scamp in a few weeks after I get back home from the Oregon Gathering.

Jeff

[Carol H]

This is the reason why supports are a good thing - this one was missing them and didnt make it through a snow fall......

[john warren]

Originally Posted by John_M

Best. Movie. Ever.

hmmmmnow that i think about it,,,my dad lost a leg at normandy,,,,wonder what ever happened to his wooden leg?

[john warren]

Originally Posted by Carol H

This is the reason why supports are a good thing - this one was missing them and didnt make it through a snow fall......

oh now wouldn't that just put a twist in your pretzel.

[dylanear]

Originally Posted by Jeff Richardson

Since I'm going to make an actual plastic laminate (Formica) covered countertop for my kitchen cabinet I will have to make a new upper cabinet support, which I believe is the purpose of the twisted iron bars.

I will probably use two 1-inch square steel tubes or maybe splurge and use stainless steel which I can polish or brush. (Oooh, I like that idea!)

The hollow tubes will allow me to run wires through them up into the upper cabinet for computer sound system speakers that I will mount on both ends of the upper cabinet. The sub-woofer/amp unit is in the cabinet under the sink. I will also run 12 volt or 120 volt wiring through one of the tubes if necessary.

I will weld cross bars between the vertical tubes for a TV swing arm mount. This is my favorite place to mount a TV. No holes are drilled into any cabinets. I can watch TV in bed or swing the TV towards the kitchen or front couch.

The 22-inch TV I use on the road is the one I use in my bedroom at home. I just put it in the original box when travelling and mount it on the swing arm when stopped. I haven't had time to figure out a way to keep it from swinging when travelling. I have the same swing arm on the wall at home.

I might even bolt another swing arm on the backside of the first one and mount a 19-inch computer monitor over the sink for TV watching and computer work at the same time. The laptop will be in the closet and only a wireless keyboard and mouse will be seen.

In the slightly out-of-focus picture below you can see how I made a quick bracket to mount the Sanus Systems MF215-B1 wall mount on the existing twisted bars support. I made it out of 1/8-inch thick steel bar stock. I was enjoying my first bowl of cereal with ice cold milk from my newly installed Dometic 2193 refrigerator last year.

I plan on working on the kitchen area of my Scamp in a few weeks after I get back home from the Oregon Gathering.

Jeff

That sounds awesome! Please report on your progress and results!

Now I'm thinking more and more about calling welders tomorrow.

[dylanear]

Originally Posted by Carol H

This is the reason why supports are a good thing - this one was missing them and didnt make it through a snow fall......

Good thing my distaste for the looks of my support didn't overcome my concern about it's structural attributes!

[RussL]

I didn't like the look of iron either so I ended up replacing it with a wood frame that also supports a stainless backsplash and is mirrored on the other end of the countertop.

Russ

[dylanear]

Originally Posted by RussL

I didn't like the look of iron either so I ended up replacing it with a wood frame that also supports a stainless backsplash and is mirrored on the other end of the countertop.

Russ

Attachment 48631

That is very nice. Love the sink/stove with covers!

I've considered loosing my kitchen drawer for a burner like that.

[John_M]

Originally Posted by dylanear

That is very nice. Love the sink/stove with covers!

I've considered loosing my kitchen drawer for a burner like that.

You might not have to Dylan. I've been looking at those, and this one is only 3.56 in. deep.....


Smev 8000 cooktop hob

[dylanear]

Originally Posted by John_M

You might not have to Dylan. I've been looking at those, and this one is only 3.56 in. deep.....


Smev 8000 cooktop hob

I'll do some measuring, I'd love the sleek look and extra food prep space!

Thanks for the link!

[RussL]

Originally Posted by John_M

You might not have to Dylan. I've been looking at those, and this one is only 3.56 in. deep.....


Smev 8000 cooktop hob

That's the one I have. As you can see I never had a drawer to begin with so I don't know how much clearance there would be. I ended up building a drawer underneath the fridge when I installed it but that's obviously not as convenient as one on top.

Russ

[John_M]

Originally Posted by dylanear

I'll do some measuring, I'd love the sleek look and extra food prep space!

Thanks for the link!

No problem Dylan. But it comes at a price.... You have to let me/us know if it fits with the drawer!!!!

[Gilda]

Am I the only one who actually LIKES the black twisty bars? My 2011 Scamp came with the white twisty bars. When I asked Jim (at Scamp) if I could get black bars he said they don't make them anymore and I could paint the white ones black. I generally find that home paint jobs are not successful. As time goes by I suspect that the black will chip and reveal the white underneath. If anyone wants to swap out their black twisties for white ones I'd like to talk with you. I would prefer that you live in Northern California (SF Bay Area) for ease of swapping.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by dylanear

Like this?

Looks too tall. Here is one currently on ebay that is 19" tall. Currently @ $1.00 and located on the west coast.



Or you could just use a fiberglass mannequin leg.