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Ideas for Steevo-esque HF bench + Mobility

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Prometheus

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Hi guys,

So I'm mulling over ideas for a workbench and have run across some ideas I'm thinking about combining, but I'm interested in input from fellow GJ members.

First I saw this on the GJ Homepage a while ago:

<img src="http://norlift.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/2013-05-13-11-50-00.jpg" width="70%">
<img src="http://norlift.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/2013-05-13-11-50-32.jpg" width="70%">

I like the idea that it is stout, but also able to be lifted up and wheeled around. That being said, I just don't have room in my 2 car garage for my woodworking bench, tool chest, and something like this. So, I just kind of mentally filed it away in the "someday-when-I'm-rich-and-famous-and-have-the-space" cabinet in my head.

Looking at some old threads I had bookmarked I rediscovered Steevo's HF uuber-bench.

i-zdWtjvc-M.jpg


I have a 44 inch HF base cabinet and the 7 drawer side add-on. Together they measure 62 inches, add ~5 inches (just over 2 on each end for 2x2 square tubing), plus a little overhang and you've got right around a 6 foot length bench. If I could add the wheels and 2 bottle jacks like the above, well, that seems like a bench that I could beat on all day long and still be able to move if I wanted to.

It appears like the bench above is built with 3x3 square tubing, but it also has a hefty steel plate on top of it. I'm more likely to go with a solid core door or 2 sheets of 3/4 inch ply wrapped in 12 gauge steel and it will only be 30 inches deep, not 48 like theirs. I'm thinking of doing 2x2 square tubing for the vertical legs and horizontal supports, 2x2 angle iron for the tool chest ledge, and some C channel for the jack to be mounted to. Can anyone thing of a problem building it this way? Any real reason to make it out of 3x3 instead? Thanks.

-Adrian
 
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Always_Thinkin

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Something to consider. Instead of two hydraulic jacks what about using two screw scissor jacks like what you find in the trunks of most cars. Then connect a u-joint to the jack and run an extension rod from the jack to and through the center of the front leg towards the top of the bench on each side of the table. Then attach a nut permanently to the rod and turn it with a drill, an impact or a speed wrench. I figure this would be easier to raise and lower since you could do it from the front of the workbench and still lower the bench in the corner/tight space of your garage. As for the 2x2 I don't see why it wouldn't work. Just my $0.02
 
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Prometheus

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Always_Thinkin said:
Something to consider. Instead of two hydraulic jacks what about using two screw scissor jacks like what you find in the trunks of most cars. Then connect a u-joint to the jack and run an extension rod from the jack to and through the center of the front leg towards the top of the bench on each side of the table. Then attach a nut permanently to the rod and turn it with a drill, an impact or a speed wrench. I figure this would be easier to raise and lower since you could do it from the front of the workbench and still lower the bench in the corner/tight space of your garage. As for the 2x2 I don't see why it wouldn't work. Just my $0.02
Click to expand...

I LOVE that idea, but I can't figure out how to do it so it wouldn't bind or have the extension rod be too short. The screw of the scissor jack will move up and down when as the jack moves. Granted, it will only move 1/2 the distance the jack is lifting (ie if the jack raises 1 inch, the screw will lift 1/2) and even assuming I would only need 2 inches of travel, that's still an inch of distance I would have to be able to account for with the extension shaft. I think I would need at least 2 U joints on each side and even then I'm not sure if it would work without binding. Awesome idea though, I'll have to think more on that one.
 
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Thumper68

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I too have been thinking of combining those two benches. I like the idea of the screw jacks tied togerther and might try and use that, I think I might have 2 of them laying around.
 
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Always_Thinkin

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Prometheus, in my opinion I don't see there being any issues. I would think that a guy could leave the rod slightly protruding and let it float by slightly oversizing the holes that the rod goes though in the front legs. As for the amount of lift needed to get the bench mobile would you agree that at most one inch would be sufficient? So the screw would travel upwards about half inch and I wouldn't think this would bind any thing or cause the extension rod to move out very far. I think it could work. Your thoughts?
 
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Steevo

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I like the idea of the framed-in mobile bench. I think the screw jacks are a good plan, and to remove the issue of the jack body moving as you screw the feet down, just invert the screw jacks, and mount the jack base to the bottom of the upper cross arm. That way the base is fixed in place.
I am talking about these kind of screw jacks:
537540921_214.jpg


Lots of cars and trucks cars come with them, so wrecking yards have a lot of them.
 
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Prometheus

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Always_Thinkin said:
Prometheus, in my opinion I don't see there being any issues. I would think that a guy could leave the rod slightly protruding and let it float by slightly oversizing the holes that the rod goes though in the front legs. As for the amount of lift needed to get the bench mobile would you agree that at most one inch would be sufficient? So the screw would travel upwards about half inch and I wouldn't think this would bind any thing or cause the extension rod to move out very far. I think it could work. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

I agree, I think it would work. I almost wonder if it it wouldn't be "best" to just make a slot essentially in the square tubing say an inch long to give the rod enough slop up and down to not bind. Something to think about


Is there a different name for the type of jack that Steevo shows above? I've tried everything I can think of and nobody seems to know what I'm talking about. I keep getting people thinking I'm talking about scissor jacks or the house-jack type screw jacks. What that pic is showing would be perfect if I could find the dumb things.......
 
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Steevo

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The one I linked the picture of is a screw jack. Entirely mechanical, not hydraulic.
My Dodge truck came with one just like that as the stock jack. You crank the eye with a handle, that is very similar to a scissor jack handle.

Try a pickup truck recycler. Dodge has used these for ten years or more.

Here is one on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-52038..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item4d159d5f6e&vxp=mtr

And here is a "buy-it-now" on eBay for them:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Ram-J...ge|Model:Ram+1500&hash=item2c75ed2212&vxp=mtr
 
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CTester

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Oct 26, 2012
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Prometheus said:
Maybe it is, but it's not a regular hydraulic bottle jack. Looks like you raise the jack by cranking (rotating) the attachment, not pumping it like a regular bottle jack
Click to expand...

It's a type of bottle jack, - those are called spiral jacks. Mechanical yes, but it's a mechanical bottle jack. You could say screw, but if your looking for that type...Yea spiral jack or spiral bottle jack. :thumbup:
 
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Prometheus

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CTester,

I spotted those just a little bit ago. Only downside is the minimum order is 300 units.....

Think we can find another 150 people who want to do this same thing?
 
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NUTTSGT

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CTester said:
What kind is that?
Click to expand...

It's not a brand, I was refering to what type of jack it was. The OP asked the question, after Steevo posted a picture.

Prometheus said:
Is there a different name for the type of jack that Steevo shows above? I've tried everything I can think of and nobody seems to know what I'm talking about. I keep getting people thinking I'm talking about scissor jacks or the house-jack type screw jacks. What that pic is showing would be perfect if I could find the dumb things.......
Click to expand...

Steevo said:
I am talking about these kind of screw jacks:
537540921_214.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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rancherbill

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I think and easier way is to use a plain old floor jack to do the lifting. Roll it under the end lift and then put some wheels under the end.

You can use a simple dolly, wheels on a hinged mechanism, drop down wheels and lock pin etc, to get you mobile. I have lots of ideas in my mind.

Personally, I like a 'U' shaped dolly. The 'U' shape is to go around the jack. The nice thing is a jack and two dollies would make the entire shop mobile.
 
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crobar6789

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you could do 2 hydraulic lift cylinders connected to a small hand or foot operated hydraulic pump. the pump I had in mind was something like off of a B-4 maintenance stand used by aircraft maintainers in the USAF. or 2 bottle jacks that are pumped up by air instead of by hand
 
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