Tool carts, portable benches, etc.
BobKovacs
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
Anyone have ideas and/or pics regarding rolling carts, mobile benches, etc.? Looking at going back into business doing interior reno (one-man shop), and just trying to see what everyone else is doing to avoid runs to the van for tools, lost tools, and so on.
Bob
Replies
Came across an ad for something here
http://www.warnertool.com/
go to bulldog scaffolding
a scaffolding, bench, 2wheeler setup
Looked ineresting.
bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
picture from warner sitebobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
I saw one of those in either FHB or JLC. Looks like a homerun- those little scaffolds are mighty handy for 8-9' ceilings. I'm 6-4 and can reach an 8 footer with no prob, but it gets hard on the back after a while. Baker scaffolds are too big, but that little puppy seems perfect.
Bob
I started with a bucket-boss loaded with stuff and then resorted to carrying it on a hand-truck and then added a plastic milk crate to carry more stuff.
My lastest innovation is a Harbor Freight service cart. I inverteted the top tray and mounted a slab of 3/4" plywood [26" X 38"] to serve as a portable work bench. I drilled holes for attachment of a bench grinder, small drill press and a vise even tho' I know that vises are prohibited on a worksite. Also added a 6 outlet power strip.
I've sen the door installers go even further and equip their carts with extra large [10"] casters and even close the sides in for added protection.
~Peter
it is pricy but you should check out the stuff festool has
http://www.festool-usa.com/portando/index.cfm
Image
Name and description
Order No.
Price
View Image
Systainer-Port SYS-PORT 500space saving and safe storage of Systainerswith 3 Systainer telescopic drawerswithout SystainerWidth x depth x height SYS-PORT 500: 480 x 410 x 500 mm
487728
292.00 USD
Systainer-Port SYS-PORT 1000with 5 Systainer telescopic drawerswithout SystainerWidth x depth x heightSYS-PORT 1000: 480 x 410 x 1000 mm
487729
372.00 USD
View Image
Telescopic drawer SYS-PORT/TAsingleFull extensionwithout Systainer
487802
63.00 USD
View Image
Set of castors SYS-PORT/RSfor mobile use of the Systainer Port4 steering rollers, 2 with parking brake
487803
48.00 USD
Hi Peter,
Whats up with the no vice thing?
I remembered a thread back from my lurking days, about building a stair-climbing electric-powered tool cart. I don't think this is the thread I remember, but look at this: (it starts out talking about trucks, but keep reading, tool cart thread starts maybe at #6)
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=11895.1
For my tools, I have a box that holds my belt bags, crowbars, brace and bits, hand plane, misc. parts and pieces for power tools, blades. Only power tool in the box is my drill/driver, charger and 2 extra batteries. 4' & 2' levels, framing square clip to the inside of the lid. Box is about 52L, 22W, and 10D. Compartments and braces are designed so that the box can be stood up on end without everything mixing together. I have this bolted to a 2-wheel hand truck (pneumatic tires). Two folding plastic sawhorses and a piece of 2'x4'x3/4" plywood bungie to the top of the box. Easy to roll in and out of the truck, up stairs, etc by myself.
My box is pretty frumpy looking, it's on my winter project list to rebuild, maybe I'll do it this winter, and post a pic of the new incarnation of it.
The sawhorses and plywood set up as a work table to hold the miter saw, or use sawhorses as a cutting bench, or a makeshift scaffold.
Dennis,
How nice of you to notice my little innuendo. I have been in this business for about 7 years and I have yet to see a vise on the jobsite. So I supposed that this is some sort of rule.
Actually the clever plumbers use a sort of vise to hold their pipes but I don't think that counts. Also the customer - we've done a lot of remodeling work in schools - will have a vise available [for their own use] [Hah!]. but I've never seen a construction worker deliberately nor accidentally bringing one on site. This, to me, is a mistake.
There comes a time, in construction events, that two big chunks of metal squeezed together by a big screw would be a patentable invention. Onetime, at Sun Microsystems, this guy was cutting 1/2" all-thread with a SawzAll. You need two hands for a SawzAll. Being a non-mutant, he did not happen to have three paws and the rod was flopping around all over the place. I happened to have a ViceGrip tool - LC-12 - [a large clamp which can grip a 3" pipe] and I showed him how to use it. It worked very well. But then I doubt if he caught on to the idea that it would be a useful addition to his tool inventory.
Sometimes you have a small part -- maybe 3" long -- which you need to work on. Again two clumps of metal holding it firmly in place would be very useful but the vise has not seemed to have been invented yet. At least not on construction sites.
~Peter
Here is a quote from a DIY electrical forum:
" I guess I should have been more specific in the way I wired it. I put the two blacks to one screw on the switch and the two whites connected to the other screw on the switch."
I have a unit I bought at Sam's Club about a year ago for $96. Then I bought a second one for 19.99 six months later when they were clearing them out--seems nobody wanted them at the original price!
It's made by Stanley in Israel (HD sells a very similar thing under the name Husky, only theirs is missing a couple of components).
Anyway, it's a stacked set of tool boxes that lock together and sit on a lightweight dolly. They can be rolled around as a single unit or detached and used individually. Bugee cords are built in for carrying handsaws, levels, other long stuff.
I really like mine. It's lightweight, but relatively strong--made of plastic with steel panels. I use one component as my regular toolbox, one for assorted screws, one for electrical, and the bottom one for power tools (screwdriver, trouble lamp).
It won't hold everything, but it's great for the small repairs I'm called to do on rental houses.
You might try checking the Stanley site for a picture.
P.S. I also lug around a Workmate. Together, they fulfill all my needs.
Edited 2/16/2003 3:50:09 PM ET by CHEAKAMUS
I have few ideas.
I have made a toolbox about the size of a footlocker. Put 8" wheel pneumatic wheels on one end and swivel wheels on the other (Northern Hydraulics). The box is sized about 48x16x24. I wanted to be able to put a 4' level diagonally in the lid, 4' ladder laying on the top, and just wide enough so that I could fit two of these boxes side by side in my van. I put some sliding wheelbarrow handles on it so that I can jump 1 or 2 steps onsite, any more look for help or use some ramps to get in side. I used some folding aluminum ramps from Home Depot, drill out the bars and fill with sheets of 1/2" ply with sand and poly so you do not slip.
Look at the saw stands from Trojan. I have had the miter saw stand and table saw stand for five years, would not trade them for anything. Use the same ramps and roll everything into the van, tie it down and go home. I can be set up at a job site with a complete shop in about 15 min.
Here are some pictures.
Nice boxes Bruce! Ever see that "Trading Spaces" show on TLC? I'd kill to have the setup their carpenters use. Roll up, set up the tent, roll out the benches (they look like larger versions of your boxes), and go to town! lol
Bob
Hiya Bruce. Welcome to Breaktime. Nice set-up you have there.
Ever wish the wheels on you miter saw table were just a little bit larger?Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
I suppose you could put all of your stuff on wheels doing interior reno, but alot of my work is in new construction. The mud and the snow makes anything that can't be carried from the truck to the site ( and forget about backing up to the door, we now have the "Dirt Police" -if your vechicle is spotted off the pavement, the second fine is so substantial, nobody does it)
As a result of this, and the fact that I'm not getting any younger, I've divided my small gear into four Stanley rolling toolboxes. I recently purchased a WolfCraft folding miter saw stand which I love, and a smaller compressor. I can set up and start making sawdust in a matter of minutes and only bring in what I need, or so I keep telling myself.
Turtleneck
I would rather go to bed with Lillian Russel stark naked. than with Ulysses S. Grant in full military regalia. - Samuel Clemens