How would you raise and lower a workbench top?

[stevep1954]

My repurposed rol dex is ready to be painted but i still am not sure how to use it to the best advantage. it has a large space inside for storage and i would like to use that but would also like a nice top that i could beat on if needed. i'm thinking of a top that would raise straight up to access the interior and then lower back to the base. can anyone think of an inexpensive way to raise and lower a top about 12" straight up and then back down again? preferably something i can get at HF on the cheap…
I guess my other option would be to hinge one side and use a couple of shock assists to raise it.
thanks for your input. pics attached are ones before i sanded and prepped it for painting.

 

[Zeke]

Since you'd have to move everything off the top to raise it on hinges, that's not the best solution. I like the sliding top. Maybe one that slides under the other? At least you'd only have to clear off half.

Straight up? Air rams would be cool. You can buy sidewinder trailer tongue jacks for about $20 ea. but they are geared real slow.

 

[Ocho]

Replicate that thing on the top two more times, then make a lightweight one you can easily remove and set aside. Then you can roll the others around to get to what you need without having to unload the tops.

 

[Squashfest81]

That is a cool piece, but the loss off storage would blow. I'd be tempted to cut a pair of doors in the face. Cut neatly and just add hinges or any style of door really. One large flat painted piece of mdf hinged on the bottom and painted to match would retain the basic look of the rolo.

 

[stevep1954]

do you think a scissor jack used for leveling rv's with the crank handle coming out the side would work to raise and lower the top?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Old drafting tables had a spring/balance mechanism for raising and lowering them. You might be able to find one (they sell pretty cheap) and adapt it. But doors or drawers would be easier and probably more functional.

 

[drivesitfar]

i also like the idea of cutting a hole for a couple doors and then putting a nice steel or wood top on your bench. having to move stuff off your bench to grab something quick inside your bench would be a pain.

nice looking piece. you say it was a Rol Dex? what was it originally used for?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What about coffee table type hinges? The top that hinges up and towards you to use as a table top to eat off of.

 

[kbs2244]

Most exercise treadmills have a 120VAC screw drive to raise and lower the ramp.
That one I have on the shelf waiting for another life has a 10 to 12 inch travel.

 

[GCncsuHD]

I'd mount a fixed top and cut doors in the front of the cabinet instead. Hinged top would be annoying having to clear it off anytime you want to raise it, vertically raising it would be trick, but would get in the way of putting things in and be overly complicated. Only other good suggestion would be two tops on rolling slides that open in opposite directions.

 

[Frank Dukes]

while that sounds cool cutting in some doors on the front sounds a hell of a lot easier and functional.

 

[Kevin54]

Screw drive. (4) 3/4-10 pieces of all thread, a reversible motor, (4) bicycle sprockets and a length of chain to go around all four gears. Mount the gears and all thread in the corners and drive the chain with the motor. Of course, there will need to be a few more components to tie everything together. You can weld (4) nuts, one to each sprocket or gear. When the chain turns the gears the all thread will let the table move up or down.

It wouldn't be hard to do, but you would have to fabricate some mounts.

 

[AnEv942]

12" raised straight up seems like it would difficult getting stuff in & out. Hinged I would divide maybe 3 sections. But for one really heavy solid top maybe poles and rod like an open pit BBQ.

 

[lonestarky]

Linear actuators can push the load, but you have to raise and lower on linear rail or slides. I would recommend two 250-500 lb units. Running them in sync will be tough. They'd probably clutch out when the whole assembly racks and binds as its moving at slightly different speeds. Hydraulic hand pump would do it too. I would get some heavy duty drawer slides instead, mount the top to those, attach the top to the wall and drag the base out.

 

[Barefoot]

We have commercial kitchen, variable height workbenches at the college I work in, so that learners in wheelchairs can use them. I have seen them in suppliers warehouses secondhand.
How about an adapted motorcycle/Quadbike or engine jack? Really cheap on ebay, about 40 quid here in the UK.