Woodworkers, a question about mobile bases.

[fflintstone]

Woodworkers, a question about mobile bases.
I need a cheap and easy mobile base for a craftsman joiner and a Rockwell table saw.

I recently purchased a home made thickness sander and it had a decent homemade lift roller system. The pictures don’t show it very well but it functions similar to the wood one shown on the jet table saw.

Although I would prefer to just buy one, but money is tight. I can’t use the harbor freight one because I need a foot actuation due to disability.
Does anybody have a good design for an easy home made one, or a source for an inexpensive commercial one that is foot operated?

 

[NUTTSGT]

This is one I made for my bandsaw.

here's the link to the build. . .

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1929413#post1929413

 

[fflintstone]

This is one I made for my bandsaw.

here's the link to the build. . .

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1929413#post1929413

its nice but I need a foot actuation for lift.

I could do something like that if I had some of these laying around.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00857ST1C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Falcon67]

Make one with these
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=30842&site=ROCKLER

 

[Fizbin]

Does anybody have a good design for an easy home made one, or a source for an inexpensive commercial one that is foot operated?

Unfortunately, the answer is "no" to both questions.

I've been looking around quite long time for a decent mobile base/lift. As you mentioned, the commercial bases are a little too expensive for what they are and I've found the homemade ones to be either complicated or bulky.

 

[rharman]

Well, I can't seem to find it this instant, but.....

Poke around the Family Handyman site www.familyhandyman.com

Might try www.woodmagazine.com also.

I've seen several variations of what you're looking for. I'll post up a link if I come across one. May have something in my collectoin of articles in the garage.

 

[rharman]

Still not exactly what I was looking for, but these should get you started with some ideas.....

http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/10/15-free-mobile-base-plans-put-your-power-tools-on-wheels

http://gweff.blogspot.com/2010/05/diy-power-tools-mobile-base.html

http://pinterest.com/moellewg/workshop-mobile-stands/

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/30738

 

[green.bubbly]

Not sure what you consider inexpensive but Grizzly has some for under 60 bucks.

 

[lilredex]

All my stuff is mobile and none of them have lifts. They are all "three wheelers" or have a pivoting axle to make them self levelling. Never have had a problem with them moving around during use. Examples..


print screen


greenshot


screenshot tools

 

[fflintstone]

Still not exactly what I was looking for, but these should get you started with some ideas.....

http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/10/15-free-mobile-base-plans-put-your-power-tools-on-wheels

http://gweff.blogspot.com/2010/05/diy-power-tools-mobile-base.html

http://pinterest.com/moellewg/workshop-mobile-stands/

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/30738

all great stuff thanks, BUT were are supending your man card for one day for the link to "pinterest"

I felt my nuts shrivle up when I clicked on it but there were lots of good ideas.

 

[pattenp]

I've got several of these and really like them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002262M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JakeKohl]

I've got several of these and really like them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002262M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'll second the recommendation for these. I was really skeptical but put one of those under my drill press. It works really well...the drill press is probably the worst case scenario with it's high CG. I need to get a couple more for the router station and so forth.

 

[pattenp]

There is also a heaver model, the HTC3000 is 700lb cap.

I'll second the recommendation for these. I was really skeptical but put one of those under my drill press. It works really well...the drill press is probably the worst case scenario with it's high CG. I need to get a couple more for the router station and so forth.

 

[KenC]

Here is a link to the ones I have. Actually I have one of these and several of the Harbor Freight knock-off. But I don't think they still make there version.
http://www.tools-plus.com/delta-50-345.html
They also make one that is not a kit, all steel and ready to use for more bucks. On lighter tools, the wood version is fine, as long as you use oak, ash or similar woods for the piece that has the lift on it. Weaker woods will twist when lifting.
If you have some material laying around, you can use steel of course, but if you have to buy it, the all steel version is cheaper.

 

[SteveCh]

I bought a Delta-branded one off Amazon for somewhere around $40. It is foot-operated and works well for my Rockwell table saw. It consists of the four corners, metal, with casters, and a foot-pedal to raise and lower it. You have to supply 2 x 2 lumber to connect it all together. I've had it about a year and like it. Works fine. I am able to move my saw all over the place, on concrete.

Before that, I had a homemade one that lasted about five yr. but was never great, possibly because I went cheap on casters, money was short. It eventually broke and I opted for the Delta. I think it's Chinese-made under the Delta label, but I've had no issues with it and it works well. And I have a heavy table saw.

Edit: While I was typing this, KenC above posted his and the photo there on the link is the same one, though Amazon was $25 lower in price, at least it was a couple yr. ago.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Another option is to put fixed wheels at one end and legs on the other. Put a tab on the leg end centered like a trailer tongue and use a 'dolly' of a set of wheels on a long handle that has a tab that bends up to meet that tab on the 'tongue'. Then you can slip it under the tab, pull the handle down and you can lift the end of the unit off the ground readily. This works well for heavy objects as well. Quick, simple, and cheap.

That said, I don't do it myself as I prefer casters on all four corners and use brakes, but the dolly/tab method has been used for years.

 

[lilredex]

Another option is to put fixed wheels at one end and legs on the other. Put a tab on the leg end centered like a trailer tongue and use a 'dolly' of a set of wheels on a long handle that has a tab that bends up to meet that tab on the 'tongue'. Then you can slip it under the tab, pull the handle down and you can lift the end of the unit off the ground readily. This works well for heavy objects as well. Quick, simple, and cheap.

That said, I don't do it myself as I prefer casters on all four corners and use brakes, but the dolly/tab method has been used for years.

That is what I did with my workbench. Move it out with a jack, to clean underneath.

 

[elm_street]

A few ideas/implementations here:
http://woodgears.ca/mobile_base/index.html

 

[rharman]

all great stuff thanks, BUT were are supending your man card for one day for the link to "pinterest"

I felt my nuts shrivle up when I clicked on it but there were lots of good ideas.

I'll blame Google.

You asked for help. Didn't specify where it came from. But, it was a page about tools - gotta get credit for that!

 

[deter]

the wood one you have on your table saw is the way I do all my heavy stuff

 

[rharman]

I have an older Craftsman version of this under my drill press. Only mod was to flip the levers around so they don't stick out. Figured I was sure to knock them off in the original config.

I've got several of these and really like them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002262M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[fflintstone]

the wood one you have on your table saw is the way I do all my heavy stuff

That's not my table saw, mine came with a crappy roller and lift built in. That was just something I found online that looked pretty good.

my saw would roll better if I didn't have a huge fence system on it.

 

[fflintstone]

so far the best value/least work seams to be this 4 roller set from Rockler. I could put fixed rollers on one side flush with the floor and 2 of these on the other. assuming the fixed casters I have laying around would work, I could do 2 machines for $68 plus shipping.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=30842&rrt=1

 

[rharman]

That's 15% off - not sure how long it's good for.

If you pull the trigger, use promo code V2364 when you check out. Good for free shipping thru 6/22.

BTW.... code was NOT found on Pinterest.....

so far the best value/least work seams to be this 4 roller set from Rockler. I could put fixed rollers on one side flush with the floor and 2 of these on the other. assuming the fixed casters I have laying around would work, I could do 2 machines for $68 plus shipping.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=30842&rrt=1

 

[slghmmr88]

Just did a quick search on Homemadetools.net and it showed 17 items with the term "mobile bases". Maybe there might be something you might like.

 

[bww_mnm]

I have the delta 50-345 ($60) for my jointer. You need to add the wood stretchers.
I have the PM1000 ($60) for my bandsaw.

PM1000 is smaller and cleaner, but length of jointer required a longer base.

 

[NUTTSGT]

its nice but I need a foot actuation for lift.

Oops, sorry. I misread your post, I thought you said you couldn't use the foot activation.