Welding Table Height Adjustment?

[Avadon]

I am fabricating a small welding table similar to the one in the picture. How could I add a height adjustment to it? There are two posts on either side and I've been trying to figure out a clever heavy duty way to raise both the posts such that I could TIG sitting or standing. I don't want anything in between the posts because that's where my legs will be.
How can I raise and lower it from both posts such that they are both in sync AND I also need a way to lock it in position.

So far I've been thinking of some kind of jack screw/Square DOM but how could I operate them both together so they don't bind? Also thought about some kind of air piston or linear actuator. Any ideas would be great.

Thanks

 

[whateg01]

Without the posts tied together the table isn't going to be very steady. Notice both of the examples have a tube connecting them at the bottom.

There are multiple ways to control both ends in sync. Simple are gadgety? Hydraulic cylinder with a slave cylinder? Cable balanced like you'd use for the bed of a hydraulic press? Screws with a shaft driving both - think landing gear for a trailer? Tube connecting a pair of parallel bars at each end with a linkage to keep both ends at the same height?

 

[Avadon]

I do have the posts tied together with a massive beam so I have that going for me.

"Hydraulic cylinder with a slave cylinder? Cable balanced like you'd use for the bed of a hydraulic press? Screws with a shaft driving both - think landing gear for a trailer? Tube connecting a pair of parallel bars at each end with a linkage to keep both ends at the same height?"

I'm not that famaliar with any of these, which do you think would be the easiest to implement?

 

[Nortonscustom]

If it were me I'd go the cable route like whatego1 said. Both hydraulic and pneumatic would add a great deal of cost and complicity. And if you don't have a working knowledge hydraulic/pneumatic controls thing can go poorly fast. For around a $100 Harbor Freight has 120v electric hoist. That gives you your up/down controls, drive motor and plenty of cable. Buy or make a couple pulleys and you're set.

 

[Avadon]

If it were me I'd go the cable route like whatego1 said. Both hydraulic and pneumatic would add a great deal of cost and complicity. And if you don't have a working knowledge hydraulic/pneumatic controls thing can go poorly fast. For around a $100 Harbor Freight has 120v electric hoist. That gives you your up/down controls, drive motor and plenty of cable. Buy or make a couple pulleys and you're set.

I know what that cable hoist looks like Electric Hoist but how exactly would you use that to raise and lower a table?

 

[Ders]

Take a look at autobody rotisserie's. I just built one for myself fo autobody work. Then I saw the first picture you posted in fabricator magazine or something a few weeks ago and thought that's a great idea put a fab block on a rotisserie. Anyway autobody rotisserie have threaded acme rods on thrust bearings for raising and lowering. Which also acts as a counterbalance mech for spinning the vehicle. Check out this website. They no longer manufacture but the videos and pictures they posted are enough for anyone to build one. Heck I did. https://www.resto-revolver.ca

 

[RMERR]

Might not be heavy duty enough, but they "claim" a large weight capacity. Cannibalize the frame of a Husky adjustable work table, maybe with some reinforcement?

Husky 52 in. W x 24 in. D Adjustable Height Solid Wood Top Workbench Table in Black HOLT52XDB12 - The Home Depot

Elevate your work experience with the Husky 52 in. Adjustable-Height Work Table. This multi-functional work station features a manual crank that can raise and lower the work surface. The 1.2 in. thick,

www.homedepot.com

 

[Garage Junkie]

How about instead of trying to make the legs adjustable, you move down to the caster level and make each caster (or a fixed leg next to each caster) raise up and down. Far easier, you don't need to worry about having them in synch, and you can glue a couple bubble levels on the frame to guide you if you want.

 

[fordkid88]

It's funny that I saw this today, my Facebook popped up today when I did this same thing. I took 2 trailer jacks from hf and took the handle off and welding a bushing with a chain gear on each one and impact adapter to one and tied them together with a chain

 

[48windsor]

what about that square tubing with predrilled holes (think signpoles)

 

[fordkid88]

If I were to do it again I would put a dc wiper motor on instead of the drill

 

[Avadon]

Take a look at autobody rotisserie's. I just built one for myself fo autobody work. Then I saw the first picture you posted in fabricator magazine or something a few weeks ago and thought that's a great idea put a fab block on a rotisserie. Anyway autobody rotisserie have threaded acme rods on thrust bearings for raising and lowering. Which also acts as a counterbalance mech for spinning the vehicle. Check out this website. They no longer manufacture but the videos and pictures they posted are enough for anyone to build one. Heck I did. https://www.resto-revolver.ca

Yes that's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I found a ton of videos on building these rotisserie's. I should be able to figure it out from here.

 

[Avadon]

Might not be heavy duty enough, but they "claim" a large weight capacity. Cannibalize the frame of a Husky adjustable work table, maybe with some reinforcement?

Husky 52 in. W x 24 in. D Adjustable Height Solid Wood Top Workbench Table in Black HOLT52XDB12 - The Home Depot

Elevate your work experience with the Husky 52 in. Adjustable-Height Work Table. This multi-functional work station features a manual crank that can raise and lower the work surface. The 1.2 in. thick,

www.homedepot.com

That's not a bad idea either. I think my local home depot has one of these. Next time i'm down there i'll snap some pictures of how the mechanism works. Might be simpler than the rotisserie method. Thank you!

 

[Avadon]

How about instead of trying to make the legs adjustable, you move down to the caster level and make each caster (or a fixed leg next to each caster) raise up and down. Far easier, you don't need to worry about having them in synch, and you can glue a couple bubble levels on the frame to guide you if you want.

I have leveling feet that can also raise and lower the whole assembly but it's only a few inches I can raise it off the wheels. Not enough to dramatically change the height between a sitting and standing position.

 

[whateg01]

I have leveling feet that can also raise and lower the whole assembly but it's only a few inches I can raise it off the wheels. Not enough to dramatically change the height between a sitting and standing position.

I can't imagine wanting to raise the table 12 inches and having to spin 4 leveling feet for 10 minutes to do so