Homemade work stands for bodywork

[signcrafter]

Anyone ever make any of these, http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/champ-fold-a-bench-2250-p-11555.aspx? I know they are fairly cheap and almost not worth making yourself but some 1" conduit from a box store is around 5 bucks a stick so 10 bucks and some chain and some foam and you would have the same thing. It's something that I could use once in a while but also something that will lean up against the wall 99% of the time in the garage. Plus I just don't have 100 bucks to spend for two of them right now so 25 bucks to build two of them fits my budget a lot better right now for something I won't be using much.

I figure someone has made one of these before since they seem pretty easy and just seeing if you have any tips or advice before I go pick up a few sticks of conduit and bend them up. I tried googling for pictures of homemade ones but didn't get much for these, came up with bike work stands and all sorts of other things.

 

[Jagmandave]

Yes, I did exactly as you said and bent some up out of 3/4" conduit, and slid some pipe insulation over them before I bolted them together, they worked probably just as well as the factory ones do....which is to say they were flimsy and flexy and didn't work for ****. I used my Workmate from there on.

 

[ChevyEFI]

While I have a conduit bender, I'd consider HF item#38778 and adding some length to the legs.

 

[signcrafter]

While I have a conduit bender, I'd consider HF item#38778 and adding some length to the legs.

I didn't even think about checking HF. Usually I'm pretty good about searching all my options but missed HF for some reason. They also have a 500 pound version for a couple bucks more, http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-capacity-portable-workstand-38779.html. I've never seen them in the store, will have to go check them out. Would be 20 bucks after discount so only a few bucks more then making them myself. Thanks for the lead.

 

[ADSR]

I bought the ones like the HF on sale for 12 bucks each.

 

[signcrafter]

I bought the ones like the HF on sale for 12 bucks each.

The 200 pound ones or the 500 pound ones? How did they work? Half way decent for the price? I'll have to see if I can find a coupon for them.

 

[ChevyEFI]

25% off coupon is in the HF coupon thread.

Not sure if I'd worry about the 500lb version; I can't think of a use for them that would near 200lbs.

 

[ADSR]

25% off coupon is in the HF coupon thread.

Not sure if I'd worry about the 500lb version; I can't think of a use for them that would near 200lbs.

agreed

 

[signcrafter]

25% off coupon is in the HF coupon thread.

Not sure if I'd worry about the 500lb version; I can't think of a use for them that would near 200lbs.

I just figured for the extra couple of bucks they might be a little more sturdier. Wasn't thinking so much for the weight limit but more for the build quality.

 

[619DioFan]

Got mine from HF. Wrapped the foam in gorilla tape to keep it from being destroyed. used to prep and prime the fenders , hood , and doors from a 69 chevelle. stands worked great.

 

[signcrafter]

Got mine from HF. Wrapped the foam in gorilla tape to keep it from being destroyed. used to prep and prime the fenders , hood , and doors from a 69 chevelle. stands worked great.

Thanks for the feedback. Did you get the 200 or 500 pound ones?

 

[lilredex]

Those all look rather "iffy". Think these would be a better solution, and could easily be made from conduit pieces:

http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-tool-storage-benches-Iron-saw-horses-W0QQAdIdZ523985535

If those feet were made to swivel, the stand could hang flat on the wall.


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I use a couple of low "grease" barrels with a length of plywood. Like these.


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[toomanytoyzz]

http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-tool-storage-benches-Iron-saw-horses-W0QQAdIdZ523985535

If those feet were made to swivel, the stand could hang flat on the wall.


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I like those stands. First thing I'd do would be to cut them legs off and make them swivel. Storage room is becoming rare in my garage.

The thing I really like about those are the ears at the end. Can't tell you how many times I dropped things off of the side while DA'ing or DUI'ing (DA'ing While Intoxicated).

 

[619DioFan]

Thanks for the feedback. Did you get the 200 or 500 pound ones?

I believe I have the 200 lb ones. I have a pair of heavy duty metal saw horses that I use if I need to really wail on something. but for standard body work the folding stands work really well.

 

[Tim G]

I've done it,think I used 1" conduit.
Wasn't too hard to make {used a factory made stand as a pattern} Hardest part was figuring where to drill the holes where it pivots.
I made four of them,have to be 10 years old,used daily in a bodyshop,and haven't collapsed yet,although the legs are getting rusty on the bottom.

 

[stylee]

Here's a great price for them. They have free shipping if you spend $75. http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-18398-astro-pneumatic-557003.aspx

 

[jfdestree]

I use this Black&Decker plastic workbench. I first bought it to put my mitter saw on, but I find it very handy to handle body parts. The only cons is as it is made of plastic, it gets damaged while welding...
I found that keter made the exact same one.

 

[saturnman]

what? do you mean a old transmission jack(cleaned up, of course), coffee cans, and harbor freight aluminum folding racks aren't sufficient ?

 

[stratman977]

If you didn't already buy them get the 500lb ones. I have the 200lb and they hold anything you can put on them but they are quite wobbly. I can sand on them but it gets annoying with how flexible they are. I have used good ones before and its a big difference.

 

[PCO6]

I have a pair of the 500 lbs. stands. I'm sure the 200 lbs. stands would have been fine for most things I do with them but for the few extra bucks when they were on sale I'd say it was worth it. I've had a complete rear axle stand on one of them. They are very stable. I have a few sheets of 3/4" plywood that are about 36"x48" and they make good general purpose tables for mechanical, auto body, fabrication, etc. work.

 

[ilovevocs]

I have use stands like that since I started doing body work. Their nice because they stow easily, fairly stable when working, and cheap. Unlike allot of stands you can use just one to hold something up; e.g. Saw designs require two stands to retain one item.

 

[KCarGuy]

I made 4 of them over 20 years ago.
Bent up 10 foot lengths of 3/4 conduit.
bolted up with 10-24 bolts and nylon washers with nylon locking nuts
used 1/4" eyebolts and chain
then used water pipe insulation on the top of each.

they still are holding up very well, even hold a Rearend on them with no problem.

And as stated earlier, fold up and store nicely!

 

[signcrafter]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to head over to HF sometime and check out the stands. If they look decent I'll probably go with the 500 pound ones. Not for the weight but just because they should be built a little better and be a little sturdier, think they are 1 1/4" tubing and the 200 pound stands are 3/4" tubing.

I'm still keeping the homemade option open if the HF option doesn't pan out. Thanks for all those that offered info about making their own. It will probably be close to 20 bucks to make one, 2 sticks of conduit for about 12 bucks plus hardware and chain which can be fairly expensive on it's own. So if the HF 500 pounders look decent I will probably just go with them for 20 bucks after 20% coupon.

 

[22george]

lf you get on Lazze's metalshaping website and look through his videos, he has a jig you can make that clamps your fender etc. to it to keep it locked in position.
l made a 4 arm one and a six arm one and they work great

I think this is the youtube video of it