adjustable height bench

[mr_skittle]

Following the picture is a FB post from the DuluthFolk School, where I'll be teaching some hand tool classes. While I have built a portable bench specifically for hand tool use, I appreciate that they are working on some more universal ones too.  They are seeking ideas on how to lock the legs at various heights. I'm leaning towards something like a hole for a stout dowel every half inch or so, but I wanted to fish around for some ideas here. I'm rarely disappointed when seeking input form the WN community. 

   

We're building work stations! 


Several of our classes require a solid surface to work on. Some of our classes require a taller work surface, so you don't have to bend over. Duluth fudge School co-founder Tim Bates has created this adjustable height, foldable work surface, and trimmed out the edges with a bit of the recovered maple flooring from the St. Margaret Mary church that was recently demolished.

Our goal is to build a good half-dozen of these for now, and any upcoming class will be able to use them.

This is a prototype, and we're still scratching our heads on the best way to lock the legs at the various heights. Standard wingnuts are too difficult to turn, the big plastic-handled wingnuts are too expensive. We've also considered a series of holes with pins, but then it's not as sturdy. Any fun ideas?

[BloomingtonMike]

What about a set of j hooks in a row that pivot from the top into the moving arms and lock down below with a set knob. Similar principle as an extension ladder.

[BloomingtonMike]

Alan did this design.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.p...-II-of-II)

[mr_skittle]

Thanks Mike. I'm afraid I don't follow on your idea about the j hooks like on an extension ladder... or is your following post an example of it? What Alan did there was impressive, but I'm afraid it wouldn't translate well to a portable, fold up bench.

[Phil S.]

Seems like you could make your own oversized wingnut with a hex nut of the appropriate size, a little epoxy and a piece of scrap wood. Or you could just use regular bolts and a ratchet wrench, guessing that the bench could be set up once at the beginning of a class and not fiddled with on a routine basis.

[Steve N]

The Noden adjustable bench hardware Costs a LOT of money, but it works very well. Just an alternative thought if you weren't aware of them.

[fall]

The Noden adjustable bench hardware Costs a LOT of money, but it works very well. Just an alternative thought if you weren't aware of them.

Plus on on the Noden .... I have one and love it.

[rudedan60]

There are bench plans I have seen called a Jack Bench.  He uses a combination of a scissor Jack, motor cycle scissor Jack and pipe clamps to hold in position.  http://www.jack-bench.com/workbench-design-plans/.  Alan's Assembly table was in American Woodworker http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projec...mbly-table.  Each has its own advantages. Dan

[BloomingtonMike]

Just relooked at the picture. Clamp a set of blocks under the slid legs.

[Lynden]

Here are some examples which are similar to your prototype, but I think they would be more stable. With each example the fixed and movable parts of each leg either interlock with one another, or one totally encloses the other. This gives the workbench more lateral support once the legs are locked in position.

http://www.necanec.com/gallery/images/L1000003.jpg

http://lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/p...487795.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236...9816d3.jpg