Table Set Up

[Joesdob]

I am thinking about picking up a small folding table to be able to set my accessories on. It’s one of those white plastic ones. Will the table dew up without a table cloth or something on it?

[Sureshks]

Hello Joe,

Well, the table will get dewed up probably 90% of the time in our climate, particularly during the summer. I've used plastic tables for many years without any table cloths without any issues. If it's plastic is should be fine. Metal ones will likely start to get rust over time.

Suresh

[SEmert]

If you want to keep the dew off it (and off anything you have on top of it), what I do is take a piece of a sheet of 3 or 4 mil poly painter's drop "cloth" and just drape it over everything, lifting it up to get at the charts and eyepieces and stuff as you need them. Simple, throwaway (or scrunchable into a small space) solution. If it's breezy you may need to have something to hold it down. But then if it's breezy there is less chance of dew anyway. I suppose a plastic garbage bag would do the same thing, but it's nice to have a single flat sheet and also you can see under it because it's translucent.

[tugger]

I would suggest getting a husky router table from the home depot. They're kinda of expensive but for $90 you get 400 pounds to put on it and I think it weighs less than 10 pounds.

You can't avoid dew other than covering the table like the others have said.

[DahnGee]

I made a cover for my table based on the plans at the DewBuster site.
https://www.dewbuster.com/dewshield-laptop.html

It's better than nothing but I get dew under it on moderate to bad nights. If you're running a computer it'll work better as the computer puts out some heat to keep the dew away.

Incidentally if you're looking to shield a computer many people here use a plastic tote set on its side, just setup the laptop inside the tote.

[Joesdob]

Thanks for the help!!

[SEmert]

For a commercial product, see this: https://www.lapdome.com/products.html

I have a "Computer Cave" by Sirius Astro Products, but it appears they may have gone out of business. But if you have access to that Coroplast plastic corrugated stuff it would be easy to make. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-4 ... /205351385 Just use Gorilla tape or T-Rex tape for the hinges and some stick-on Velcro to hold it to the table top. This is what the Computer Cave looks like set up. https://www.cloudynights.com/classified ... excellent/ One just does the tape hinges so that it can be all folded flat for storage and transport.

[SEmert]

I would suggest getting a husky router table from the home depot. They're kinda of expensive but for $90 you get 400 pounds to put on it and I think it weighs less than 10 pounds.

You can't avoid dew other than covering the table like the others have said.

Years and years ago Wal-Mart had a folding wood slat camp table for something like $15. I still have it and use it. Unfortunately it's long ago discontinued. Something similar is this aluminum one from Cabela's - https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas ... lsrc=aw.ds
although the legs folded more like this one -
https://www.google.com/search?q=folding ... 2023133084 which is kinda nice that you can stow the bag for it and other really light stuff on the V of the legs when it is opened up.

[MarkC]

This is what I use. I got it at Target years ago. Also use a storage tub on its side for my computer.

https://www.wish.com/product/120-x-60-x ... 21a0851019

[Deane Clark]

I have an aluminum one like this, although I recall paying maybe $35 for it at the time. No rust with aluminum and it folds nice and small.
https://www.rei.com/product/765280/rei- ... roll-table

The other table I have used frequently is a 24x48” poly table that I got at Aldi many years ago for $50. The legs fold like any of the common plastic tables you see around, but the top is one piece. I have seen versions where the top folds in half.