Assembly/work bench

I didn’t see the first iteration but how are you adjusting the legs so the top is even? I think it would be very easy to have one corner 1/4-1/2 inch higher. Marking a scale on every leg would be faster than having to measure every time. Or drill a hole every 2-3 inches and put a pin through it. But I really like the idea of the adjustable top and the glue bottle shelf.

-- a little bit of stupid goes a long way

Coincidentally, my first thought seeing your (beautiful) sketchup drawings was “could this table be built with fewer quick-release clamps for the legs?” The concern is how do you ensure all four corners are at the same height? or would it matter?

Nothing comes to mind right away, but there should be a way to tie at least 2 legs together at a time so you’d be down to only two adjustments.

I think it looks like a cool design, I guess the proof would be using it to see how it holds up.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

If the cams don’t work out, you can always drill a series of evenly distance holes in the base and use a hefty pin in each leg to hold the top at the height you want. It looks like you have a lot of beef in the base to surround the legs on the top to be able to do this. Cool idea

-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!

I really think your concept looks great, but I think Jack’s idea might be the most practical way to accurately adjust the height. A twist on that idea might be to just let the bottom of the legs rest on top of the pins. That way you could just remove the top, set the pins to the desired height and then set the top in again and let gravity do the rest. This might work ok if the legs are a snug fit. Good luck with your project whatever you decide!

-- Mike, American in Norway

Thanks for the input guys.
I had considered the problem of getting the top level and will mull the solution over a bit more. At the moment I would probably opt for putting index lines on the uprights. I’m concerned that with out the cams locks or screw clamping the top could move and be a bit wobbly to work on in the higher settings. If I made the sleeve the uprights are held in tight enough to prevent movement it would be difficult to raise and lower and could even jam in damp weather….not that we ever have that here in Oregon.

I was re-reading your comments and I had an epiphany. (don’t ask why I used that word and I had to look up the spelling). I can use pins to set the height and the cams or screw claps to secure it.

-- Les B, Oregon

I like the design!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I would be concerned that it might be hard to raise up and down by yourself due to wieght and size making it awkward. accomodating some type of a jack in the middle of it might get around that issue however.

For maintaining a level top, I like the pin idea as well. Mainly because of fear that the sliders might let go when you least want them too, or just plain slip if you had something too heavy on it.

Otherwise it looks like a GREAT beginning to a super assembly bench!

-- See some of my creations at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/76Winger