Project Information
Necessity is the mother of invention they say, so this post is about my latest 'necessity'. My small garage workshop is limited for storage, and all my 'stationary' tools are made portable in various ways so I can move them around, or even outside if need be. I've mounted everything on tables or carts with wheels on one end so they can be easily moved by picking up the other end to re-position them. Even my massive 3' by 8' work bench/table has wheels on one end.
See my "planer caddy" here: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/72223
I recently needed to bandsaw some long stock which needed end support going into and out the back side of the saw. My wife always generously offers to help, but then is always compelled to provide lots of advice when she does so. I know many if not most, husbands and wives have similar issues with their partners. I love my wife, bless her soul, but always work more calmly and peaceably without the advice.
My solution was to build a collapsible roller stand which can be stored against the wall almost anywhere. I've made the stand height adjustable so it may also be used with my table saw and planer too. The spreader bar for the legs has a hinge which allows it to fold up between the legs when collapsed. The other end drops over a pin on the other side. There are a number of holes in this bar which allows for height adjustment. The roller supports are slotted for the same reason and are held in place with bolts fitted with wing nuts. Taken together there is about 6" of vertical adjustment available.
The collapsed stand is easily stored completely out of the way beside my hot water heater. It may be weighted with a sandbag for more stability if need be. I've only made one stand since I don't often saw long stock any more. It is used first on the infeed side of the saw, then around the halfway point I shut down the saw and leave the work on the saw table. I then re-position the roller stand on the outfeed side to finish the cut. So far, so good!
The roller is 2 lengths of 2×3's glued together, then turned on the lathe. It has a 3/4" hardwood axle. Almost anything round could work as a roller, even PVC with end plugs. The pictures are self-explanatory I think. I dislike building things from heavy 2×4 lumber when not needed for strength, so keep a stock of 2×3's on hand for lighter needs such as this. I have also been known to rip regular 2×4's down for the same reason, which I have done in this case.
See my "planer caddy" here: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/72223
I recently needed to bandsaw some long stock which needed end support going into and out the back side of the saw. My wife always generously offers to help, but then is always compelled to provide lots of advice when she does so. I know many if not most, husbands and wives have similar issues with their partners. I love my wife, bless her soul, but always work more calmly and peaceably without the advice.
My solution was to build a collapsible roller stand which can be stored against the wall almost anywhere. I've made the stand height adjustable so it may also be used with my table saw and planer too. The spreader bar for the legs has a hinge which allows it to fold up between the legs when collapsed. The other end drops over a pin on the other side. There are a number of holes in this bar which allows for height adjustment. The roller supports are slotted for the same reason and are held in place with bolts fitted with wing nuts. Taken together there is about 6" of vertical adjustment available.
The collapsed stand is easily stored completely out of the way beside my hot water heater. It may be weighted with a sandbag for more stability if need be. I've only made one stand since I don't often saw long stock any more. It is used first on the infeed side of the saw, then around the halfway point I shut down the saw and leave the work on the saw table. I then re-position the roller stand on the outfeed side to finish the cut. So far, so good!
The roller is 2 lengths of 2×3's glued together, then turned on the lathe. It has a 3/4" hardwood axle. Almost anything round could work as a roller, even PVC with end plugs. The pictures are self-explanatory I think. I dislike building things from heavy 2×4 lumber when not needed for strength, so keep a stock of 2×3's on hand for lighter needs such as this. I have also been known to rip regular 2×4's down for the same reason, which I have done in this case.