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#1
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the
ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? |
#2
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
"Joe" wrote in message ups.com... I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? So cut a section out of as many legs as needed and insert a threaded rod into each section of the leg using the appropriate hardware. Weld a nut on the rod so you can turn it with a wrench. |
#3
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:29:02 GMT, "efgh" wrote:
"Joe" wrote in message oups.com... I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? So cut a section out of as many legs as needed and insert a threaded rod into each section of the leg using the appropriate hardware. Weld a nut on the rod so you can turn it with a wrench. And then you'll have a table with four wobbly legs. I think you would need to have a telescoping leg, with a good 12 inches of overlap between the sections. But you'd need 3 arms to adjust it. If the legs have stretchers connecting them, and a work table should, then the adjustment ought to be below the stretchers. -Leuf |
#4
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
I don't have an answer to your specific question, but a suggestion to
make things a little easier if you don't find what you need. You could cut one leg (it can be the most easily accessible one) notable shorter than the other three and then that will be the only one needing an adjuster. If the adjuster can be turned with a wrench you won't need to lift the table if that leg needs to be lengthened because you can get enough force with the wrench so that the adjuster will do the work (you'll still have to get on your knees, though). Charles Joe wrote: I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? |
#5
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
It seems like it would be easier to level the top than the
legs. You could use 4 machinist's jacks, one under each corner of the top. Joe wrote: I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? |
#6
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
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#7
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
M Berger wrote:
It seems like it would be easier to level the top than the legs. You could use 4 machinist's jacks, one under each corner of the top. Or alternately, some kind of cam arrangement in the frame around the edge of the base. Fix one corner (somehow...) and put cams at the two on the other side. The cams could be locked by tightening their bolts, and a lock washer would probably help. Or, you could try a tripod workbench. |
#9
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
" substantial carriage bolt "
1/2" Threaded rod? Available in 4' lengths. Clean through the leg and nut captured near the top with another welded to the exposed end would allow one to use a socket wrench to effectively lengthen or shorten the leg in question from the top. Some guy in Wisconsin is bemused by all the "ink" this question has garnered - esp absent the response of the OP! "Bill in Detroit" wrote in message ... wrote: I don't have an answer to your specific question, but a suggestion to make things a little easier if you don't find what you need. You could cut one leg (it can be the most easily accessible one) notable shorter than the other three and then that will be the only one needing an adjuster. If the adjuster can be turned with a wrench you won't need to lift the table if that leg needs to be lengthened because you can get enough force with the wrench so that the adjuster will do the work (you'll still have to get on your knees, though). Along the same vein ... ASSUMING stout wooden legs ... He could route (drill, blast, gnaw) a slot in a leg large enough to take a substantial carriage bolt .. 3/8" or perhaps 1/2". Then he could cut that leg to make a wedge and tighten both pieces back together with that bolt and a couple washers on each side. When he moved the table he could loosen the bolt, slide the wedge up or down to adjust and re-tighten the bolt. Or not. Bill --- avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 0658-0, 12/13/2006 Tested on: 12/14/2006 3:14:10 AM avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2006 ALWIL Software. http://www.avast.com |
#10
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
Joe wrote: I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level... [and adjusting the feet is uncomfortable and unwieldy given the weight of the table] There are silly solutions, of course; fill a kiddie pool with water and put your table on a boat... screw the table top to a tilt head like on a photographer's tripod... One possibility is to use hydraulic cylinders in each leg; lock 'em by closing a valve, unlock the legs that are too long (under table-weight load) until those legs are the right height. Industrial distributors carrying the Enerpac line might have something suitable, if you can afford it. Your table will have a hydraulic fluid reservoir, of course, in addition to the valves and cylinders. Easier, is to use the adjustable feet that rotate in a threaded collar; if you can braze a long rod to the threaded foot, put a 3/8" socket head on the top, and you could jack the feet up or down with a ratchet wrench. Either bore the (solid) legs and put portholes in the table top, or weld up some outboard braces for the feet. |
#11
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
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#12
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
redbelly wrote: ... he says he wants the table top to be level. For that, he needs adjustability on all 4 legs. Uh, make that THREE of the legs need to be adjustable. Mark |
#13
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:53:37 -0800, redbelly wrote:
redbelly wrote: ... he says he wants the table top to be level. For that, he needs adjustability on all 4 legs. Uh, make that THREE of the legs need to be adjustable. Seems to me that a two pronged approach might be good. One leg with a leveler on the bottom to stabilize the base, and three with levelers on top to level the top. Inset levels in the appropriate locations might be a useful feature. If he doesn't want to get down on his knees the adjustable leg could be adjustable from the top--make it telescoping with the adjusting screw high up on the leg and bearing on a block in the crosspiece while threaded into an insert in the top of the extending piece--that way you could if you were careful with the workmanship fix it so that you can put a ratchet on it and leave it for an adjusting lever. Or you could make that leg adjust from the top with a threaded insert and a hex head machine screw with the head down in a hole in the end of the leg--adjust the base, put the top on, then level the top with three more screws. -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) |
#14
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
J. Clarke wrote: On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:53:37 -0800, redbelly wrote: redbelly wrote: ... he says he wants the table top to be level. For that, he needs adjustability on all 4 legs. Uh, make that THREE of the legs need to be adjustable. Seems to me that a two pronged approach might be good. One leg with a leveler on the bottom to stabilize the base, and three with levelers on top to level the top. Inset levels in the appropriate locations might be a useful feature. If he doesn't want to get down on his knees the adjustable leg could be adjustable from the top--make it telescoping with the adjusting screw high up on the leg and bearing on a block in the crosspiece while threaded into an insert in the top of the extending piece--that way you could if you were careful with the workmanship fix it so that you can put a ratchet on it and leave it for an adjusting lever. Or you could make that leg adjust from the top with a threaded insert and a hex head machine screw with the head down in a hole in the end of the leg--adjust the base, put the top on, then level the top with three more screws. That would work. At any rate, the adjusters should go either at the top or bottom, but not in the middle, of the legs. I'm just not clear on what the OP's problem is. Is it with having to bend down low, or with having to lift the table? If lifting is the problem, a simple jack, or even a prybar + short wooden block (6" 2x4?), might solve the problem. Mark |
#15
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
It's overkill but this might accomplish your goal. Try four trailer
tongue jacks mounted to the legs. They have a hand crank that will reduce bending and can be adjusted independently. If you get the ones with wheels, it will make it easy to move the table. I'm not too sure about the wobble factor, though. See: http://www.easternmarine.com/em_store/jacks/ Tom Joe wrote: I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? |
#16
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
Joe wrote:
I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? I have most of my tools on casters. The method I use to level them is: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thesam....net/my_photos Max |
#17
Posted to rec.woodworking
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
Max wrote: Joe wrote: I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? I have most of my tools on casters. The method I use to level them is: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thesam....net/my_photos Max Looks good, except that I would put a metal plate or block of wood under the screw tips. I'd have expected over time the screws would gouge holes into the concrete floor. Have you had any problem like that happening? Mark |
#18
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
"redbelly" wrote in message ps.com... Max wrote: Joe wrote: I have a worktable that I need to keep level. Only problem is that the ground it stand on is not level so any shift brings me down to the floor to the tedious task of leveling each leg from the adjusters on the ground. I'd love to replace these legs with something that will allow me to level this table from the middle of the leg so I don't have to lift a quarter of the table off the ground each time I level a corner. Are there any products I can buy at a Home depot or specialty store that will do the trick? I have most of my tools on casters. The method I use to level them is: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thesam....net/my_photos Max Looks good, except that I would put a metal plate or block of wood under the screw tips. I'd have expected over time the screws would gouge holes into the concrete floor. Have you had any problem like that happening? Mark I welded large washers to the bottom of the "levelers" for the first tools I outfitted. I noticed no degradation of the floor so, thereafter, I omitted the washers. I have had no problems with any gouging of the concrete. I should point out that we used 5 sack concrete when we poured that floor. I added a couple more pics at: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thesam...m?.dir=ace1scd to show what I mean. Your suggestion is a good one where a floor might be questionable. Max |
#19
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how to build a worktable that can be leveled in middle of legs
Max wrote: I welded large washers to the bottom of the "levelers" for the first tools I outfitted. I noticed no degradation of the floor so, thereafter, I omitted the washers. I have had no problems with any gouging of the concrete. I should point out that we used 5 sack concrete when we poured that floor. Max, thanks for the info and added pics. -- Mark I added a couple more pics at: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thesam...m?.dir=ace1scd to show what I mean. Your suggestion is a good one where a floor might be questionable. Max |
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