The Heavy Bench

[Zeppe807]

Smart idea to paint the corners red...

I too only have a small two car garage, and I have three little children which are about that height. It is also a nice indicator for others that are not use to seeing it in the way. I would not recommend painting the top surface like mine besides the corners if you plan on welding on it. The paint was a rash decision because I was doing some detail work on small items, and didn't want the dark bare metal surface as a background.


It looks like you have close to a 1" plate as the top also. Is that correct? It will provide you with a good working surface.



Joe

 

[Cor3]

Thanks for the post! This is an awesome idea.. I like how the guy came up with a solution to make a mobile heavy bench. Although I think I'd put more casters.. not that those are not enough. But it would just make it a little easier to push around because the weight would be distributed to more points.

 

[Cor3]

Really cool idea! I'm thinking it could be "improved" to only use one jack, but might be difficult if it was loaded really unevenly for some reason.

Id probably complicated the frame work of the table and put way to much pressure in one spot every time it was used.

When you suggested this, I started thinking about how it would work... and couldn't think up any "simple" way to pull it off. Though where theirs a will theirs a way, so maybe somebody can post up a good sketch of an alternative plan.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Dig that jack system for the wheels!!

 

[j p smith]

Ryan that is an awesome bench. One of my favorite things about the forum is being able to look at ideas like this. Jeff

 

[kluckfab]

Man that is so flipping cool of an idea!

 

[bczygan]

I like the idea, but have a modification.
Could the hydraulics also be used to RAISE the top and some associated framing that reinforces it?
Imagine a frame around the perimeter of the top, with a short leg at each corner. These legs are sized to slip down into the corner posts of the base. So this whole top assembly is separate and sits on top of the base assembly.
Now, drill a hole in the cross member just above where the jack sits on each end. This allows the jack piston to push the top assembly UP.
Start with the jack in the down position and the table legs on the floor, just like the table shown above is configured.
Pump up the jack and the casters extend and you can move the table.
Once it is where you want it, lower the jack, retracting the wheels.
Now, place a spacer between the two cross members on each side, so the jack can’t push down.
Now, extend the jack, with the piston pushing up, to raise the table top assembly height..

 

[Garage Coffee Roaster]

How heavy is that bench?

 

[lilredex]

Those hydraulic jacks are a lot of extra unnecessary work and expense. Put fixed wheels on one end and a low cross member on the other. Your floor jack will lift it and move it anywhere.

Old floor jack wheels on the rear...

 

[jvo]

I did something similar with my welding bench. I bought two trailer jacks at the local offshore junk tool store. You know, the kind that you weld the socket to the trailer frame, then pull the pin and the jack swings up out of the way.
I welded a socket to each end of the welding bench.
Then welded a piece of channel iron about 18 inches long to the bottom of the foot on the jack.
Drilled holes and put a caster at each end of the channel iron, so each end of the table has a jack with two casters on it.
That way, I can remove the trailer jacks, and use them elsewhere on other heavy equipment. Just have to make a few more sockets to weld to other stuff, so I can pin the jacks to them.
I don't have a pic of the bench right now with the jack installed, but you should be able to see the socket welded to the end of the yellow workbench, that the jack pins to, right behind my buddy Bob that is wheeling a panel.

 

[alpinewhite]

I did something similar with my welding bench. I bought two trailer jacks at the local offshore junk tool store. You know, the kind that you weld the socket to the trailer frame, then pull the pin and the jack swings up out of the way.
I welded a socket to each end of the welding bench.
Then welded a piece of channel iron about 18 inches long to the bottom of the foot on the jack.
Drilled holes and put a caster at each end of the channel iron, so each end of the table has a jack with two casters on it.
That way, I can remove the trailer jacks, and use them elsewhere on other heavy equipment. Just have to make a few more sockets to weld to other stuff, so I can pin the jacks to them.
I don't have a pic of the bench right now with the jack installed, but you should be able to see the socket welded to the end of the yellow workbench, that the jack pins to, right behind my buddy Bob that is wheeling a panel.

 

[jvo]

Okay, so for those without any imagination, here goes. Hopefully I don't have to take pics of the other end of the bench with the swivelling casters. With any luck, most of you can imagine that.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Okay, so for those without any imagination, here goes. Hopefully I don't have to take pics of the other end of the bench with the swivelling casters. With any luck, most of you can imagine that.

That's an elegant solution. Really like the idea that the lift mechanism can be moved to other shop items.

 

[Builder302]

Okay, so for those without any imagination, here goes. Hopefully I don't have to take pics of the other end of the bench with the swivelling casters. With any luck, most of you can imagine that.

Could you replace the jack handle with a bolt head and use a cordless impact instead of hand cranking? I have welded bolt heads on c clamps to do the same

 

[rburke65]

Well , I maybe one without "any imagination"......sorry for my deficiencies jvo....but thanks for the photos. You know what they say...."one picture......."

 

[PCO6]

jvo - Nice simple solution.

 

[machine_punk]

When I built my huge bench to hold my Baileigh 3-in-one sheet metal machine (1300 lbs / 590 kgs), I thought of all the systems I've seen for mounting wheels on a semi-movable bench...then decided they were all too complex.

I really don't need to move my bench often...only with major reorganizations of the shop, so I decided to use objects I already had, then design the bench to be moved with those objects.

This is bench has double 2x8 legs, with a 2x10 cross brace. You could design something very similar in metal. The only key here is to make sure the leg cross brace is the correct height for the jack you already have available in your shop. I use my air-over-hydraulic jack and a set of wheel dollies to move the bench around. Then, I set the bench back down and it doesn't move, or shake--until I put it back up on the dollies to move it again. Even with the machine on the bench, it moves easily, but when it is back on the ground, it doesn't budge...
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For smaller, easy-enough-to-lift-with-one-man benches, I simply use the 'wheelbarrow' wheel arrangement on one end, and lift the other end up to move it around the shop. This bench uses double 2x6 legs. I mounted the wheels so they are just the thickness of a piece of cardboard off the floor. You lift up on the other end of the bench a few inches and it will easily move wherever you need to go...
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I have a small metal table I made with a 4" craftsman vise attached, I put wheels on one end so I can roll it around...
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Excellent design! I was sort of heading this way with a welding table I wanted to make, but didn't think about the wheels.

Kev

 

[alpinewhite]

I like the idea, but have a modification.
Could the hydraulics also be used to RAISE the top and some associated framing that reinforces it?
Imagine a frame around the perimeter of the top, with a short leg at each corner. These legs are sized to slip down into the corner posts of the base. So this whole top assembly is separate and sits on top of the base assembly.
Now, drill a hole in the cross member just above where the jack sits on each end. This allows the jack piston to push the top assembly UP.
Start with the jack in the down position and the table legs on the floor, just like the table shown above is configured.
Pump up the jack and the casters extend and you can move the table.
Once it is where you want it, lower the jack, retracting the wheels.
Now, place a spacer between the two cross members on each side, so the jack can’t push down.
Now, extend the jack, with the piston pushing up, to raise the table top assembly height..

 

[srmofo]

Smart idea to paint the corners red...

Thats not paint

 

[kazlx]

Love it. The only improvement I'd like to see (it's minor!) is if you could add a foot pump instead of the bottle jack. But sometimes simplicity is best.

Use air-overs and manifold them together

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Since we are exploring ways to retract casters, what about air bags. Use your air compressor to supply the air to lift and a regulator to SLOWLY lower the bench. I found a guy that started a project similar to this, see the link.

http://foolnotion.com/category/woodworking/airbag-workbench/

 

[Dorsey]

I like it a lot. Very creative. Is that a Wilton C3 on top?

 

[Hot Chop shop]

That's a great bench! And also a real pretty vise!

 

[cokeb5]

my bench has close to the same idea, the jacks are replaced by 1/2 black pipe running through the legs front to back with a cam located above each caster bolt, a 1/4 turn of the pipe and the bench is on its wheels

 

[Always_Thinkin]

my bench has close to the same idea, the jacks are replaced by 1/2 black pipe running through the legs front to back with a cam located above each caster bolt, a 1/4 turn of the pipe and the bench is on its wheels

Do you have any photos?

 

[EOC_Jason]

Very cool idea... I'm just lazy and use my forklift to move heavy things around... lol.

 

[cokeb5]

Do you have any photos?

here are some pics. the 1" square tube acts as a guide for the round tube, the black pipe has a 5/8 bolt plug welded.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

cokeb5, I like it! Now you have me thinking...

 

[blind]

Cokeb5, How are you locking the wheels in the down position?

 

[cokeb5]

Cokeb5, How are you locking the wheels in the down position?

when I turn the 15/16 bolt head 90 degrees the cams shown in pic. Two push down on the wheels lifting the table, when I get to my destination turn bolt back and the table drops back on its legs

 

[blind]

Well that's easy. I figured the cam would turn back to the low side. I guess the weight keeps it from turning.

 

[cokeb5]

Well that's easy. I figured the cam would turn back to the low side. I guess the weight keeps it from turning.

sorry didn't understand your question, plenty of drag between the parts but still lifts with little effort.

 

[skloon]

I saw one that a guy built that used his compressor to lift the whole bench on a cushion of air he could move it with one finger and when the air was turned off the whole thing was immobile,

 

[bmwpower]

I saw one that a guy built that used his compressor to lift the whole bench on a cushion of air he could move it with one finger and when the air was turned off the whole thing was immobile,

I like that idea too.

 

[alpinewhite]

I saw one that a guy built that used his compressor to lift the whole bench on a cushion of air he could move it with one finger and when the air was turned off the whole thing was immobile,

Reminds me of an air hockey table.

I think the floor jack with wheel dollies is the best system for the occasional move.

 

[mtnwalton]

I saw one that a guy built that used his compressor to lift the whole bench on a cushion of air he could move it with one finger and when the air was turned off the whole thing was immobile,

The plant I worked at had a roll rack that air cushions that hooked up to air lines for movability. I hadn't seen it in use and I started there in 1978. The rack held small rolls for an aluminum rolling mill. Each one weighed about 3.000 lb, the rack held 24 rolls if I remember right.

 

[Shobra]

Maybe someone more computer savy than I could copy some of the pics from this thread over here, for everyone to see the scissor lift system.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?61973-Welding-Table&highlight=bender

 

[alpinewhite]

Maybe someone more computer savy than I could copy some of the pics from this thread over here, for everyone to see the scissor lift system.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?61973-Welding-Table&highlight=bender

Here you go. This one's the best one.

 

[PCO6]

Maybe someone more computer savy than I could copy some of the pics from this thread over here, for everyone to see the scissor lift system.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?61973-Welding-Table&highlight=bender

There's a lot of great ideas in that bench. Thanks for posting.

 

[dublove]

Man that is sweet! Great idea with the bottle jacks.