Work Bench Leveler

admin

This weekend I decided to finally do something about the wobble my workbench always has due to the uneven garage floor (we'll ignore the fact this it's nowhere near square).  The bench has fixed wheels at one end and fixed legs at the other (see picture 1).  I welded a small pin to the bottom cross-member under the fixed legs to allow me to use a wheeled dolly to engage the pin and lift the fixed legs off the ground to maneuver the table around. ( see pics 2 & 3 & 4).  My main problem is that the GARAGE FLOOR is uneven so one leg always seems to be off the ground and the thing wobbles. (see pic. 5) Attached ImagesLast edited by frieed; 10-03-2010 at 06:38 PM.MillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:Next cut off one fixed leg and remove a section (pic1)   Next take a piece of 2x2x3/16 tube and fit it inside the leg of the workbench.  This was a real pain since the legs of the workbench are 2.5x2.5x 1/4 and I had to grind a groove to provide clearance for the seam weld in the leg tube.  Layout fluid is quite useful here..(pic 2)  Fit the old leg bottom to the new tube (pic 3)  Then weld on cap on the other end and a 5/8's nut on the other end.  This will accept a length of all-thread.  The other end of the all-thread has a nut welded in place and another cap the will be welded into the top of the leg tube (pics 4,5) Attached ImagesMillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:Pic 1 shows the top cap in the leg tube (bolted at this point until I was sure of it worked correctly) pic 2 show the workbench back upright and pic 3 shows it with the top back onLast pic shows the new attachment for my vise... Attached ImagesMillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:Interesting idea. The only issue I see is all the weight on that leg is supported by only 2, 1/4" bolts in shear. I could see those snapping if something heavy was dropped/set on that bench..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:That was temporary just to check the fit.  I welded around the top laterMillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:I like your design, you put alota thought into it, I can tell. It looks like it works prefectly. You deserve a big attaboy. My final thought is, that wobble must have really irritated you.
Reply:Yeah, especially with the vise mounted on it.I thought about doing some kind of swivel leg assembly for the fixed legs, that way it would adjust itself and I wouldn't even have to turn the screw, but that is really just a complicated version of a three legged bench and the resulting tendency to tip when you put something heavy on a corner at the end with one leg.  The other problem with three legs is that it interfered with my dolly system.MillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:If I make another bench I'd build the receiver for the vise into the top frame member instead of an add-on thoughMillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:Great ideas, nice work and pictures Frieed, thanks.  Some good ideas posted above I could use for my own welding bench."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:Why not extend the bolt up and put some type of handle so you can adjust it more readily?