I have a client that wants three podiums build that each need a foot or hand crank lift built in to raise and lower the top. Each one will be made from solid maple with a center column that is 2 feet square and a top that is 40 inches square. These measurements are just to give you an idea of overall size. Building them is straightforward, but where to get these lifts is a new one for me. Anyone have any experience with this, know where to get them, etc?? Thanks for whatever help you can give.
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Replies
Maybe a rack and pinion gear set up.
There are plenty out there on line,
metal or wood.
Here's a wood one
https://www.etsy.com/listing/386634574/maple-rack-and-pinion-gears?gpla=1&gao=1&
How about a Hand Jack Lifting Tool
Scissors Jack
Maybe a telescoping podium design with an internal moment-arm counterweight?
Instead of raising and lowering the podium, you can raise or lower the speaker . . .
There are many kinds of of lifts made for standing desks, which a podium is ,more or less. Some mechanical ,some pneumatic. Some are hand cranked, some with servo motors. Look for standing desk hardware or kits.
Actually pretty easy to do using a small motorcycle lift. Just make an inner piston that rests inside an outer box that sits on the lift.
I might be thinking "gas springs" and then a thumb screw to lock the height. Lots on Amazon and not too expensive.
If infinite adjustability is not a requirement you could get a 4-step range of adjustment by making either the upper or lower box of the overlapping sleeves with steps built into the male side, placing a stop within the female side. You'll have 4 steps accessed by lifting up the top and rotating it.
Not as sexy, but it might do the job.
A quick search for "aluminum lab jack" might also get you there.
Your question sent me down a rabbit hole -- I got interested in the mechanics of lifts. A couple of links that I found interesting:
If electricity is available, then here is someone that explains the needed parts and how to hook up linear actuators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpZl77cYBxo
I do like both of MJ's suggestions -- the simplicity and cost effectiveness of the rotating sleeve and the all-in-one aluminum lab jack seem good to me.
I have no idea how to help you, but the idea of such large podiums brings to mind Bond villains and the kind of club where you might need to lift something weighing up to 80Kg and an 'enclosure' of some kind.
If I were doing this, I would probably buy a desk lift set as the heavy duty options are designed for exactly this kind of operation and come with control mechanisms. They are also ridiculously cheap and have a decent range of movement. For instance:
https://www.timotion.com/en/products/height-adjustable-desk-kits/tek19-series
https://www.tenaquip.com/product/wesco-hydraulic-work-table-16-l-x-16-w-steel-200-lbs-capacity-260059-ma433
Lift for barber chair.
https://www.cncest.com/products/chair-replacement-hydraulic-pump?gad_source=1