Multifunctional Mini Lift Table From Cheap Tripod

This instructable is about how to convert a cheap tripod (or any tripod) in a ultra mega über useful small multipurpose table.

Due to the possibilites that can give the mix of a tripod with extending legs and elevable central pillar and a flat surface, some of the uses of this kind of table are:

• Standing up desk for a laptop
• Sofa table
• Standing up desk to adapt on a treadmill or elyptical bike
• Synth table
• Cofee table
• Arm rest table
• Projector table
• Helping table to extend a saw table
• Lectern to give improvised motivational speeches
• And many more (please put your thougts, ideas and photos in the commment section)

I made this tripod in september 2021 and and since then I haven't stopped using it. At the time I'm creating this instructable I see that there is a similar one here made by TheRoyalEngineer, a very nice project. All resemblance is mere coincidence. If you (me) want to be the first in something, don't procrastinate.

The described process is adapted to the characteristics of this particular tripod, but you can take ideas to make your own.

I hope you find this article useful and entertaining.

Materials:

• A tripod
• A wooden board. It should not be much longer than the open tripod or you will have stability problems when supporting objects. As you can see in the photo above and the final result, in the process I decided to use a brand new cutting board, as the initial piece of board was a little crappy.
• A wooden block thick enough to drill a hole of the diameter of the tripod's central pillar (or the plastic piece that was in my tripod) and put some screws to it to attach the board, and long enough to give stability to the join of the block and pillar.
• 4 screws to attach the board to the block

Overengineering materials (optinal and expendable):

• Expoxi (needed if you want to overengeneer this)
• M8 Screw and bolt, long enough for the purpose

Tools:

• A drill
• A drillbit of the diameter of the central pillar
• Optional M8 drillbit if you follow the overengineered steps
• A drillbit do make holes for screws

The tripod I used was given to me without the top part where cameras are attached. My initial idea was to put an M8 screw with epoxy and unscrew that once resine was dried, but.... was impossible to unscrew that 😅. So I had to cut the head to attach this piece to the wood block.

As I mentioned above you can skip this way of making. If the block of wood is long enough you can put it directly to the pillar. But doing this you but you run the risk of the pillar falling down unless you glue the block to the pillar or fix it with a screw

Well, in my case the block is adapted to the top piece of the pillar and I had to make two holes, one for the piece and other for the M8 screw.

Just attach the block to the piece using bolts.

As my m8 bolt stood out the block, I had to drill enough into the table for the join to the block to be correct.

Make the drills in the board for the screws that will join the board and block. If you have a conic drill is good to make conic drill to better accomodate the screws.

The title is good enough to explain the step and this words are superfluous 😸

Now you have one of the most versatile and useful pieces of furniture you will ever have in your life!

Ideas:

• A foldable table would be even nicer.
• If you have a full working tripod and you don't want to sacrifice it you can simply make a board with a recessed nut adapted to the 1/4-20 UNC or 3/8-16 UNC mounting screw that standard tripods have.