3 in 1 Rotating Bench - Has Anyone Tried This?

[rjsone]

I just saw this bench for sale & wondered if anyone has any experience with it. Also, any idea who makes it? I am trying to research it a bit, but I only know that it is a bench with a rotating center section for mounting 3 tools. I cannot make out any brand names from the picture.

I searched this forum & Google with no luck.

Thanks.

 

[Ray-CA]

Sears used to sell something like this under the Craftsman name. It was for three bench top tools.

I've been looking for that bench myself.

Ray

 

[rjsone]

It looks like it is a Craftsman product (maybe model 65511). I just found a post that's nearly 3 years old on another website saying that it was discontinued.

Seems like a good concept, but likely not too magical if not readily available.

Anyone used it or know anything about it?

 

[Mickey O]

I remember them, they had a homeowner version (that one looks a little nicer), I don't remember who made them, Skil, Delta, B&D? The one I remember was for holding 3 bench top tools. Of course if they were really good they'd probably still be readily available, that's usually the case but not always. Call or email the seller and ask for the manufacturers name.

 

[Mickey O]

Yeah, it looks like it's a craftsman:

 

[blazemaster83]

my dad had one when i was younger, not sure if he still has it. It worked pretty well. The only thing i remember that i didnt like about it was you could only put smaller tools on it. Also, if you didnt use all 3 sides, it was a little more difficult to spin. Other than that, it provided a pretty stable surface for 3 tools. I wouldnt mind having one if i had the floor space.

 

[Mickey O]

my dad had one when i was younger, not sure if he still has it. It worked pretty well. The only thing i remember that i didnt like about it was you could only put smaller tools on it. Also, if you didnt use all 3 sides, it was a little more difficult to spin. Other than that, it provided a pretty stable surface for 3 tools. I wouldnt mind having one if i had the floor space.

You could just add ballast to the empty 'slot'.

 

[rsanter]

a friend of mine made one based on the sears one they used to sell
he used 1'' sq tubing to make it and didnt worry too much about the ballance of the items. he liked it and it seemed to work well but I thought it was a bit of a waste of space

bob

 

[dirtball]

I had one made by Craftsman. It was pretty "light duty". The legs were made of thin metal and when I got it (used) the whole thing was tweaked. I did straiten it but it still wasn't what I was hoping it was going to be. I ended up selling it for $50.

 

[Garys Garage]

I have had one for years. Works well for me. It is not in constant use. Would probably use it more if it was in my garage instead of basement.

 

[JohnMTO]

If you enter a model number of 65511 or more completely 706655110 into search on searspartsdirect.com you will find a parts diagram and parts list They show a manual
F495A3 for $3.49

It's still available. Some parts are not available. I would not mind a look at the manual if you have/get one.

 

[JohnMTO]

Just ran into one of these benches with machines and lots of pictures on EBAY search

CRAFTSMAN ROTARY TOOL BENCH, 10" TABLE SAW, 6" GRINDER


3/19/2011

 

[RBailey]

I use a workmate (I know) and my bench top tools have are all fixed to a piece of 1" ply with a stip of 2x4" on the bottom which the workmate clamps to.

Just drop in which ever one I want.

Has the advantage of being completely portable for field work.

Cheers,
Richard B.

 

[Mlinke]

Hi,

I am in the process of designing a multi-tool table that rotates horizontally around a central axis. It is for smaller tool, no bigger than my power miter. Still designing the power access. Thought about a slip ring, but need to check on power utilization. Might just make it easy and plug/un-plug things as I need them. Probably safer that way anyhow.

Matt

 

[Dugbug46]

Every once in a while one of those will show up on Craigslist. Sometimes with the tools still attached. Of course if you are looking for one, it'll never show up.

 

[highside19]

I have one. I bought it at Sears in Tucson, Az about 15 years ago. I don't know how many were sold but I love mine. I have a compound miter saw on one side, a 10" table saw one one and the other is flat. I redid a room in my house and was able to cut plywood and trim by just rotating the table. It is awsome!

 

[Richard Cranium]

I remember seeing them and thinking that would be great for a small shop, but have never used one...And Yes they were disc. from sears years ago...Good luck...Rich

 

[Joe13169]

I bought mine when Sears offered them a second time. Wish I could find another, reasonable $ and distance. I did sketch out a plan to build one, but never did. Now, I may go with RBailey's idea of 3-20-2011. It would be a bit more efficient on floor space, counting in storage. But, tools are heavier as I get older.

Joe

 

[drmarkr]

I bought mine when Sears offered them a second time. Wish I could find another, reasonable $ and distance. I did sketch out a plan to build one, but never did. Now, I may go with RBailey's idea of 3-20-2011. It would be a bit more efficient on floor space, counting in storage. But, tools are heavier as I get older.

Joe

http://tucson.craigslist.org/tls/4645732821.html

 

[torqueman2002]

I have been toying with the idea of getting one of these tables, but $200 is too far from where I'd consider reasonable.

CL Detroit metro >Macomb co; Posted: 23 days ago
Craftsman rotary tool bench - $200 (Lapeer)

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tls/4662704073.html

 

[torqueman2002]

A great fall road trip to Cincinnati, OH and $150 got me the CM table, a HF grinder, a Wilton vise, a CM Belt Sander & a CM16" Scroll saw.

 

[zkling]

What vise did you get? Those benches are neat in a DIY home owner way. IMHO they are horribly inefficient and very limiting. But if it works for you.

 

[torqueman2002]

I agree, the table is a bit flimsy for my liking and I'll reinforce it with angle iron (bed frame) to add stiffness.

I like the idea of rotating the DYI grade woodworking tools into position. I'm dabbling with woodworking in the basement shop and expect to upgrade as my skills/interest improve.

The Wilton in a small 3" jaw, haven't looked at the model yet, it's still in the truck. Not the machinist (bullet) styles I have in the garage shop.

 

[dngrmse]

Here's one for $20- if someone is looking.
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/tls/4808501036.html

 

[Refnump]

I had three of them, although one never made it out of the boxes. I really liked them, wish I hadn't let them (and the affixed tools) go. Gave the unused one to my son...it's still in use. But things happen. Have been looking at one available locally on Craig's List, and...maybe.

As others have mentioned, they're somewhat light duty. The base's sheet metal is fairly flimsy, but if you don't have to relocate your shop more than a couple of times, it should serve well.

The two end-mounted casters are small, and to move the bench, you have to pick up the opposite end, trying to maneuver the bench without being able to take substantial strides because the base frame is in the way (my biggest gripe about the tool bench).

Forget about mounting your bench top drill press. You won't be able to use the full 360° capability, since the drill won't clear the floor. My 18-inch scroll saw wouldn't fit either...too long front-to-back. I could have mounted it parallel to the bench - let it hang over the two slide out pieces - but then it wouldn't have been comfortable to use standing at the end and reaching over the table.

Still liked them and hope you found one, or, if you're still looking, do so soon.

 

[AirJunky]

Cool idea, although it sounds like some reinforcement might be needed. Found a couple listed, but nothing near me. Maybe someone else can take advantage.......

http://lansing.craigslist.org/tls/5404461700.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/tls/5417339801.html
https://medford.craigslist.org/tls/5418714976.html
http://quadcities.craigslist.org/gms/5394587669.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/5425053843.html
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/tls/5368339538.html

 

[Refnump]

Cool idea, although it sounds like some reinforcement might be needed. Found a couple listed, but nothing near me. Maybe someone else can take advantage.......

AirJunky...here's a Craig's List posting that is actually in Washington (western):

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/5412151311.html

 

[xlr8nFord]

I have that bench and I am looking to sell it. Located in Massapequa NY you would have to pick it up. $125. Let me know. [email protected] Thanks, John

 

[kehoffman]

I also have one of these for sale. One side has been overlaid with heavier material that could be removed. May be had with a small belt sander mounted (optional). Looking for $75.00 for bench and $50.00 for sander. Also available - table saw that matches the heavier overlay as an outfeed. Located in Goshen, IN - pickup only [email protected]

 

[machine_punk]

For the amount of space it takes up, I'd rather just have all three tools on the benchtop and scoot them around, when I need them. Then, you have storage space underneath for all the consumables.

KDub

 

[fartymarty]

Well I have one and it needs to go, but it seems too rare and interesting to just sell it to someone else that will either resell it or toss it. I'm sort of curious about the creativity here on the forum. What else do you think one of these could be modified and re-purposed for either in the house or maybe outside? Now the outside usage would need heavy modification and replacement of particle board and heavy rust prevention coating upgrade, so assume that's already been taken care of in your ideas.

I have trouble thinking outside the box, and I'm not very creative so I've only come up with a couple of ideas: Some kind of a hose reel for large diameter hose (outside); mounted horizontally in a wall (inside, yeah, impractical but as close to outside the box as my right angle brain can manage ) so that art work could be spun around easily and switched between a flat screen HDTV and a small wall safe.

I'm sure someone here can come up with much better ideas.

Anybody? anybody?...

 

[fartymarty]

Well I'm not as interested as I once was, because I've found a home for mine at my B-I-L's garage (it's not there yet but he says he wants it sometime in the new year.)

However I did think of another usage as a rotating target for archery. (or pellet guns, or perhaps more destructively, even firearms. I'm not a firearms guy, but I would assume that near misses and even hits would quickly take their toll on the particle board and thin steel) One could stand it on end or on it's side and have three different available targets which could be easily changed during arrow retrieval.

For those still using theirs in a small shop, one of the most valuable usages might be keeping one side blank so that it can just be used as a bench either as is or with a removable more substantial top that slides down behind the bench. This would mean significant out of balance turning of the top, but I think some of that could be alleviated by attaching weights to the under side of the blank side, maybe a couple of old brake rotors. The hard part would be the discipline to keep the bench clear enough so that when rotation was desired, it didn't take half an hour to clear it off and find new locations for all that "flat spot" stuff that has accumulated on top.

 

[kythri]

Dumb question:

Why is it too rare/interesting to sell, but it's not so rare/interesting that you're willing to ruin/destroy it?

 

[fartymarty]

Dumb question:

Why is it too rare/interesting to sell, but it's not so rare/interesting that you're willing to ruin/destroy it?

Not a dumb question really. I guess for the same reason I bought it. Space.
In hindsight it isn't the space saver I'd hoped it would be, and there are better DIY solutions to serve the same purpose. Secondly, is the trouble of trying to sell it worth the money I'd get for it? Probably not to me, so if someone were to come up with another idea that would make it more useful to me I'd be thrilled to keep it. I could be mistaken as to how rare it is, and of course the interesting part depends on the person. I'm not sure I've answered your question, and perhaps it really isn't "Too rare and interesting", perhaps I'm just too lazy to sell it. It's sort of moot now, as I've said, my B-I-L seems to want it. Still I love the creativity that is available here and on places like Pinterest, and I thought maybe some ideas would sprout up that might make it more valuable to many than it's original purpose was.

 

[kythri]

Eh - understanding that you've already made a deal with your brother-in-law - it only takes a few minutes to snap a couple pics, and post it for sale on Craigslist, LetGo and OfferUp, and you might make a few bucks.

 

[fartymarty]

Eh - understanding that you've already made a deal with your brother-in-law - it only takes a few minutes to snap a couple pics, and post it for sale on Craigslist, LetGo and OfferUp, and you might make a few bucks.

Thanks, kythri.
It's not the listing part that is bothersome. Looks easy.
Well, I admit to not having sold anything yet (except on flea bay) in the modern internet age, but my distaste for dealing with potential customers back in the "sell it in the neighborhood newspaper" days has left me jaded. The number of folks coming to the door and not having even half the funds asked for, wanting to trade something, lowballing, wanting to use my bathroom, etc etc. has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. If I want to avoid the folks that just want to waste your time so they can scope out your garage to see if it's worth their while to break in and steal stuff, I'd have to haul it outside every time just to show it.
I'll get involved with flea bay to sell something that I can just ship, but I don't want to disassemble this to ship. But like you noticed, I already have a deal, unless of course some innovative/creative/re-purposing GJ talent can show me another use for it so great that I can no longer part with it. In which case my B-I_L might be a little cross with me.

 

[fartymarty]

Well I'm not as interested as I once was, because I've found a home for mine at my B-I-L's garage (it's not there yet but he says he wants it sometime in the new year.)

Well that fell through, now he (B-I-L) says ironically that he doesn't have the room for it. Hrummpph!

New plan is to totally give up on it as a rotating bench, cut it down in height and make it into a stand for dual Sears table saws bolted together side by side.
Daddos on the right saw, thin kerf saw on the left, and cantilevered/angle supported router table on the far left. Sawdust bins and storage drawers below. Folding outfeed table in the back.
If I ever decide that I need a rotating bench, I think I'll go with one of the home made dual sided ones and put what ever tool(s) I think I'll use the most on one side and perhaps a couple of 2" receivers on the other side for various temporary tool mounts from off the shelf that already have the bars attached.

I'll come back here and post more when (if) it happens.

 

[compunaut]

Well Marty, if your plans change again ya might let me make you an offer - I must be nearby. My brother almost bought me one for $50, but he's in MI & doesn't have room to store it until I roll North for the holidays.

 

[PhysicsDude]

Saw this on Craigslist a few days ago in the Dallas area:

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/tls/d/craftsman-rotating-tool-bench/6686464590.html

A little pricey for what it is, at $265, but the bench and tools look to be in good shape.

I'd never seen it before, and its pretty interesting. I thought about buying it, if I had a need for those tools.

It would be cool to build a similar setup that was really solidly build, with a gear reduction rotation system and metal work surfaces.

 

[fartymarty]

Well Marty, if your plans change again ya might let me make you an offer - I must be nearby. My brother almost bought me one for $50, but he's in MI & doesn't have room to store it until I roll North for the holidays.

I think we can work something out. Go ahead and PM me and we'll see if we can get your eyes on it first hand. I'd happily take $50.00 for it, I'd even help you load it up. I could send you a photo, but I'd have to get stuff off of it first. It isn't in mint condition, but it's never been drilled for mounting tools. It's wear and tear is all from sitting in the garage and holding stuff up off of the floor.

It's ironic that it appears to be designed to save room, an yet most don't have room for one. If space is really tight, there are better options. If space isn't tight then why have it? So if you are only moderately challenged for space and like the convenience of just rotating the tool you need into position instead of dragging it off of the shelf, then this thing is for you!