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Hello

I need advise on Murphy style hinges. Here is the details: The train lay out is 6 feet by 10 feet and I do not have the weight for it. It will be constructed out of 1/2 plywood with the base frame of 2x4x10. I will have 6 loops and switches and it will be all Atlas track. The center of gravity should be very close to the center of this layout

I have done my homework and contact directly some Murphy Bed sellers. They stated that they did not know if their product could handle what I designed or flat out said no.

What I am looking for is a pivot style hinge that could handle this weight and stress, like the old castle draw bridge.

I know that gas shocks Murphy Bed cannot handle anything over 215 lbs. Some spring type Murphy bed are rated 1700 to 2100 lbs and the hinge set cost $500-$700 which is way out of my budget.

If some else has a better way I am listening.

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I'll have to ask my son what he paid for the hardware we used to build his Murphy bed.  I know it was nowhere near what you have stated.  

The size you are building is larger than any bed, even a king size bed.  You might want to lighten the framing.  I used 36" hollow core doors to build my layout on, but they are in a fixed position.  It allowed me to have no framing underneath.  You don't need to use framing lumber to lay the plywood on.  A better and much lighter material would be to use 1" x 4" white pine boards to build the frame, then apply the plywood.  

With a lighter system you can forgo the Murphy bed hardware and simply use a couple of standard hinges and maybe a cable/pulley system to lift the layout when you are not using it.  You will need some sort of latch to keep it in the raised position.  

If you are not going to have all sorts of scenery like plaster mountains and such, I can't see the entire platform weighing much more than a hundred pounds.  

I too would like to do this. If you hinge it at the bottom then it would have to be about 2' off the floor to fold up, assuming 8' ceilings. I'm trying to figure out how to have it be maybe 36" high when in use, which means having to raise it after opening. When closed I would like it to be no more than 10" from the wall.

Ideally then it would have a smooth bottom and a frame around it so closed it looks neat and tidy.

GVDobler posted:

I too would like to do this. If you hinge it at the bottom then it would have to be about 2' off the floor to fold up, assuming 8' ceilings. I'm trying to figure out how to have it be maybe 36" high when in use, which means having to raise it after opening. When closed I would like it to be no more than 10" from the wall.

Ideally then it would have a smooth bottom and a frame around it so closed it looks neat and tidy.

Are you planning to have a six foot deep platform as is Kris ?   If so, I can see your dilemma.  But of you can make it even five feet deep, then you might be able to squeeze it in.

By the way, I see you were a marine at about the same time I was a Seabee.  I served a tour in Dong-Ha, 68/69.  Any chance you were in country also ?

Thanks for the replies, sorry in the delay on getting back to you. I have a cabinetry carpenter building this for me and it would look more like furniture than a layout. I have another thread about the pulley system, I was try to get away from that and use the Murphy bed style hinge. https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ulley-storage-system

Dear Dan

Sorry not in Dong-Ha during that time period.  Did you get a chance to speak to your son about him Murphy train layout? I would like to hear what advise he has on the topic.

Dear Totrainyard and Royboy

Thanks I will look into it, I have to wait until my carpenter comes back from vacation to see what he thinks.

Dear GVDobler

That is exactly what had in mind as well but I have 12 foot ceiling which allow me to build it that wide.

Dear WildMary

I did see that system and I did look into it but the max weight is something like 215-250 lbs because of the gas shocks. The spring system can take a few hundred lbs. without a problem.

I also have a 6 year old so safety is big concern, I do not want him messy with this and get hurt or even killed by it.

 

nvocc5 posted:

Thanks for the replies, sorry in the delay on getting back to you. I have a cabinetry carpenter building this for me and it would look more like furniture than a layout. I have another thread about the pulley system, I was try to get away from that and use the Murphy bed style hinge. https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ulley-storage-system

Dear Dan

Sorry not in Dong-Ha during that time period.  Did you get a chance to speak to your son about him Murphy train layout? I would like to hear what advise he has on the topic.

Dear Totrainyard and Royboy

Thanks I will look into it, I have to wait until my carpenter comes back from vacation to see what he thinks.

Dear GVDobler

That is exactly what had in mind as well but I have 12 foot ceiling which allow me to build it that wide.

Dear WildMary

I did see that system and I did look into it but the max weight is something like 215-250 lbs because of the gas shocks. The spring system can take a few hundred lbs. without a problem.

I also have a 6 year old so safety is big concern, I do not want him messy with this and get hurt or even killed by it.

 

Kris, it was from Amazon, $265.00.  Not quite as inexpensive as I thought.  

Dan Padova posted:
GVDobler posted:

I too would like to do this. If you hinge it at the bottom then it would have to be about 2' off the floor to fold up, assuming 8' ceilings. I'm trying to figure out how to have it be maybe 36" high when in use, which means having to raise it after opening. When closed I would like it to be no more than 10" from the wall.

Ideally then it would have a smooth bottom and a frame around it so closed it looks neat and tidy.

Are you planning to have a six foot deep platform as is Kris ?   If so, I can see your dilemma.  But of you can make it even five feet deep, then you might be able to squeeze it in.

By the way, I see you were a marine at about the same time I was a Seabee.  I served a tour in Dong-Ha, 68/69.  Any chance you were in country also ?

I was in Dong Ha as a jumping off place in '67. Much thanks for the Seabee folks. Semper Fi

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