To cut or not cut my train table

Find a way NOT to cut it, there must be away. Your son has you now and you can give him many other things. That table is irreplaceable...me thinks

You'll probably have answers all over the board (sorry for the pun)...I would vote for altering your grandfather's table so your son can still enjoy the temporary layout. 

  Tom

I am very sentimental so I would probably not cut the table by your grandfather. I always took up space in my regular living area for my boys- it took up living space but it was accessible for them on my main floor and eventually they graduated to working with me on the layout I built in the basement. Think of all options before cutting that table. Don't know if that helps but something to think about.

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I wouldn't cut it. you have the MPC layout that your son is having fun with, why not delay building the new layout for a while.

You stated:

 

Part of me thinks that if I cut it down then it can still be enjoyed by my son and myself and that is what he would have wanted.

 

That is EXACTLY what your Grandfather would have wanted.  He will be looking down with great pride as you and your son enjoy his gift. 

 

If you have room to store it as is, then do so.  Hopefully, your son, who is having big fun with it now, will appreciate it's history, and his heritage when he is an adult.  Document it's history for provenance and the future.  Sure, some will view it as just an old homemade table, but folks who cherish these types of things will know why.

 

I have an old wooden cigar box (just the bottom) from my Mom's Father, that he stored screws in.  I do the same, and will never, ever get rid of it.  And, I've got a million screws, stored in various containers and drawers, but this box is always my first go to when looking for a special screw.  Nostalgic?  Perhaps, but it certainly has a place in my heart and memory, and  it's just a cigar box that he owned, but it's treasure to me.

 

I agree 100% with Jim, cut the table so that it fits in the room so that you and your son can enjoy it.

 

Your grandfather built the table to be use, not to be stored away.  I'm sure that a lot of love went into him building the table for you and I would bet he would be thrilled to have his great-grandson enjoy it as well.

 

If you put the table in storage, it may never be used again.  Just because you are into trains as an adult, doesn't mean your son will be.

 

Jim

I have a cigar box (not wooden) that my Grandfather kept wood screws in. I use them on my layout whenever I can.

It seems to me that the question is less about cutting or not cutting, and more about using or storing the table. If it just gets stored and not used, how will the younger child get its nostalgic value imprinted in his mind? Maybe it will just be an old piece of junk to be tossed out when/if he has no room. Maybe it will get warped/damaged in storage and no longer be usable when the time comes. Maybe the child will not be in a physical place or emotional place to use it when the time comes.

 

To my mind the hierarchy is:

1-use it now without cutting it - figure out how to do that

2-use it now by cutting it

 

7-store it and give it to the little guy later (3-6 left out intentionally)

 

That's just my opinion, but I find that people tend to look at things from only one point of view. Maybe if you think about it for a while, you can come up with another solution that involves using it without cutting it.

I also agree with Jim on this one. I think your Grandfather would want you and your son to enjoy the table NOW.

Modify and adapt.... I'm sure that's what your grandfather would do if in the same position  He would rather have you use it.

Don't cut it.... if you do you will regret it.....

I'm with those who say go ahead and cut. Of course, you have to save that piece. Family heirlooms are frequently damaged, or modified to suit the needs of the living. Maybe in 25 years you and your son can put it back together for your grandson. It all just adds to the story.

Why not cut it and then hinge the piece back to the main board???

 

Marty

I think I will cut it but keep the piece that I can somehow re-attach in the future.

 

1) if I just store the table I would have to buy wood and such to build a new one it its spot.

 

2) The table is pretty bulky, 5x9.  I do not have much extra storage space in the house.

 

So cutting it is.

I would do 1 of 2 things.  1: cut off the 1 foot and hinge it back on to make a drop down section.  2: build your layout a little higher than the table and don't cut it.

 

Rick

I would not cut it unless there is no other option. It's to be enjoyed so enjoy it

 

I would NOT cut it.  Maybe angle it in the corner or turn it around then reverse any buildings. move transformer to new location, whatever it takes. Because at some point you may/will regret this action and it will be really hard to reglue edges and make table whole again and trying to conceal the cut like it never happened.

It's a piece of wood.   Cut it!

Like others have stated, what would your grandfather want you to do.

JD,

   Here is my suggestion, cut the table to the size needed, use some nice size hinges & brace work to construct a folding piece of platform at, the end of your allotted space, keeping the original piece as a fold down unit that can be folded out again when you have more space.  Simply alter your Grandfathers original work, adding memories for both you and your son to share, and make sure your son understands what is happening, and that Grandpa would definitely approve.

PCRR/Dave

One more for cutting it.  Your grandfather would have wanted it to be that way.

I would save the table for your son and get saw horses and plywood and rebuild the layout to a size that will fit.  

Cut the table. Build your own memories with your son and know you are standing on the shoulders of your grandfather.

 

Jeff C

Ask your son what he would like to do AFTER you explain to him where it came from but try not to make him feel guilty..................Then do what HE say, not what we mortals recommend

Any pictures of the table?

I'd put it in storage and save it for later, as your grandfather built it.

 

It is easy to build another train table.  Tables built by great-grandfathers are, as you know, rare - unique - and I imagine your son will treasure it.

I agree with Lee, keep it as is, maybe put off the switching layout for now, because they do grow up fast!!!

 

Art

There may be a third option; add onto it and make it part of a new layout that both you and your son can enjoy. Do it in such a way that you can remove it in the future if so desired. That's what i would do if it were mine.

Trim it as cleanly as you can and save the piece. Could be a transformer table. Grandfathers used things until it didn't work or you couldn't make it work.

A picture would help.

It may be a work of art and cutting it would be disaster.

Or it may be a labor of love and fine even with the cut.

(Amazing what wood glue and a brace can reconstruct!)

here's what I would do. very sentimental I know but I would not cut it up or alter it. I would alter my plans to fit with it in the room. might even incorporate it into your switching layout some way. you and your son enjoying the two layouts together. maybe tie the two together in some way.