help me out guys... weld table retractable casters

[BLUE72CAMARO]

So I know I have seen multiple threads on weld tables using hyd. jacks to raise and lower the casters on here but for the life of me I cant find any of them... Looks like I scored a 5'x6' fab table with 1" top and I am going to need to be able to move it around as its a little large for my shop but beggers cant be choosers.

So anyone know who's tables use the system for lifting and retracting casters like I am talking about? and yes I plan to shamelessly copy there design! LOL

 

[ducksface]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464851

It's not what you asked but a cordless drill/ratchet wrench/socket/adjustable wrench and something like this allows you to level individual legs.
It would take four hydraulic jacks to do the same.
Most of benches you mention does one end and then the other end and still has to have manual adjusters to get level.

Hydraulic jacks are cheap enough to buy four of them.
You'll pump or you'll twist, but you'll need to adjust four legs if level is a concern.

And
You want retractable feet, not retractable casters.
Casters have small footprint and allows the table to jiggle if You whomp it sideways or lean on it.

 

[lis2323]

Here’s mine.








Original caster lock on the left. LIS modified unit on the right to allow levelling


Modified unit






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Go to Mcmaster and look up "floor locks"

 

[ducksface]

I'll post mine later.
They's uggggllllyyyy!
I didn't make them, I got the table for free and it works, so.....
Like the pics above but uuuuggggllllyyyy, the feet sit down and lift the caster.


Does anyone have the video of the guy who built the power leg lifts and the very complicated cool table?
He pulled all of his videos because he was doing magic with ryobi tools and Chinese mills and just got tired of hearing the **** from those who couldn't use the tools.
YouTube channel.
You'll remember the table.

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

Ducksface I remember seeing that table had chain drive routed thru the frame and all types of crazy cool stuff if I remember right.

I know what floor locks are but I would rather go the other route as the table already has leveling feet/bolts on it and I just want to move the table when needed rather than have it mobile all the time. Also this table is going to weigh around a ton when I get it and I plan to add to that so not gonna be easy to stomp something down to raise it up.

The builds I am thinking of had a couple crossmembers welded into the table on both ends and then had a channel with casters underneath with guide rods thru bottom member on table with another channel above and a small hydraulic jack set above it and pushed against top cross member of table to shove casters down and lift the table. I believe there were springs on it as well to lift the casters off the floor when not in use. I can figure it out if need be but would be nice to see how they did it again.

 

[ducksface]

I just went through 1200 pictures and I can't find it.
I know the table you're looking for but I didn't find the picture.
That picture is exactly the reason I mentioned end to end lift vs each leg lift.
It's a great set up.

 

[mdurbanc]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222930&showall=1

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222930&showall=1

Thanks man that is what I am thinking of.

I happen to finally stumble on to another one as well.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293057

 

[joe49]

I just want to move the table when needed rather than have it mobile all the time.

KISS method, what I do is bottom shelf or pipe welded to bottom of table in the center down to about one foot from the floor. Lift and move with a hydraulic floor jack, just float the feet off the floor. If table isn't balanced, use anything for balance weights, on the top to balance it. Takes longer to type this than to move the table. If you do the shelf you could just by trial and error move the jack to find the balance point. But it is worth also adding the piece of pipe centered on the bottom of the shelf, just much quicker to get it up and balanced that way.

 

[larry4406]

Keep the ideas coming!

Here are some links I have book marked over the years...

https://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65718
https://garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=926751&postcount=6
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8156742&postcount=14
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281866
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364844
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349661

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3507825&postcount=67

 

[bradpac]

I'm a fan of the use a pallet jack method. Works for more than just your table, but you could store the jack under the table and take up a pretty small space.

 

[sberry]

I also wouldnt mess with them. Put 2 heavy fixed steel wheels on one end and a cross bar on the other and lift it with a common floor jack.
I also use pallet jack, already have it and the room isnt a problem. My office desk, parts washer, pressure washer, shelves and 60 pallets and skids, anything I can rig with it.
Moved the shelf up under the parts washer an inch to fit it, the green desk is storage, works super, can rotate the parts on the go in the paint booth.