Seat Back Table

My bus was missing the sink cabinet when I bought it, but it has the little flip out table that mounted to the side of the sink cabinet.  I decided for now to mount the flip out table to the back of the passenger seat, that way I would have an extra table when I wanted, but I wouldn't lose the space required for a full sink cabinet (I am sure I will build the sink cabinet someday!)  I held it up and measured and adjusted, and then concluded that the original table was messed up enough to necessitate making a new one. The original had been cut and patched a few times over the years and just wasn't complete enough to mount in.   I made the new one from 3/4" (19mm) birch plywood.  I used the original hardware and just cut out the new parts, glued them up and stained and varnished them to match (close).  I then bolted the table to the seat back with 1/4 - 20 bolts.  I did this by inserting brass threaded inserts into the edged of the plywood.  They hold great and are really easy to install.  I need to add a catch soon, but it's basically complete.

After looking at the flip out table for a while, I decided that I really should cover the table top with a laminate to match the dining table.  I can't find the OG laminate pattern, so I think I will just re-cover the dining table as well.  If I am going to go through that, I should just make a new table for the dining area and leave the edges of the plywood exposed like the flip up table.  Off to the laminate store!



I did get the wood "kick panel" sanded, stained and varnished for the table area.  I installed the electrical outlets in this piece, using the original steel electrical enclosure as an electrical box.  Pretty easy to do.  I now have a four outlet box instead of a two.  I gave up the GFI for now, I think I will use an old 110v hot tub cord I have that has the GFI built right in the cord.  should solve that problem nicely.

I was playing around with the bumpers a few days ago, There were several dents and buckles from encounters of with unknown foe from times past.  I removed the bumpers in hopes of hammering out some of the minor dents and creases.  I noticed the bumper over-riders just un-bolt from the bumpers.  I took them off, hammered out most of the dents in the original bumpers and painted them bright white.  I re-installed the bumpers with all new bolts but without the over-riders and I think I like it better.  Guess I will have to drive it around for a while to see if it grows on me.

Another thing I have been thinking about is the color I will paint the exterior.  I have gone round and round on this so many times, I must be nuts!  I have made the decision!  I am going with the "Seafoam Green"  The only thing affected (so far) by that decision is the curtains.  I headed off tot he fabric store and found some curtain material that will be a bit better with the green than the bule ones I just made.  I have half of them made so far, they are quite easy once you have it figured out.  The only hard one to do is the curtain behind the wardrobe.  I will need to take lots of seats and parts out to replace that one.  Oh well, its painful to be indecisive.