Like many amateur woodworkers, I use my garage as a shop, so tools and machines must be pushed out of the way when not in use. I bought commercial mobile bases for my tablesaw and bandsaw, but other tools sit on carts. To make them mobile, I came up with this inexpensive solution. I put two fixed casters at one end of each cart and wooden feet at the other to keep the cart level. One more fixed caster goes on a mobility lever I built, which slides under each cart and steers it around the shop as needed. The lever hooks onto the cart via a dowel on the base, which fits into a corresponding hole in the underside of the cabinet. To help steer the dowel into the hole, I drew a line on the base of the lever and on each cabinet, marking the hole’s location. The carts steer from the back, like driving a forklift. They are extremely maneuverable yet very stable when I take the lever away.
Craig Luthy, East Moline, IL
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Woodriver Rechargeable Desiccant Bag
WoodRiver Router Bit Storage Case
Comments
This has to be the most ingenious way of keeping our tools footprint small, the stand stable, yet mobile. Am adding this to the stand, i'm making for my brand new, 1960's Crafstman Joiner~!~
thank you~!~
We helped a friend move his shop (lots of heavy equipment) last Saturday. He had this set-up under his drill press and used an eye-bolt/screw so he could see where the pin was going before lifting the wooden blocks off the floor. Excellent design!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in