The Woodshop Shed

WOOD, METAL, REPURPOSED PROJECT, An idea for your SHOP

Furnished content.
(from Lumberjocks.com)


Last week a friend called me up as he needed some help to load a hospital bed left at a seniors Lodge. If had been left by a renter, apparently one of the motors didn't work, he is 89 and one leg is several inches shorter from a falling accident in the logging industry. I help him whenever I can. He asked me if I wanted it, I said I have enough projects on the go. But the next morning I was laying in bed thinking of what to do, the thought came to me I could make a table that raises and lowers for a fellow that is a paraplegic, He runs a repair business, chainsaws to atv's etc.
The table he has is about worn out. I called my friend up and he still had it in his truck so he brought it out.Since I had pulled a muscle in my back trying to roll a 20 foot log on the sawmill for a wood shed I am building, I thought this could be lighter work and good therapy. First job was to strip it down, remove the springs, two of the motors and some metal pieces so I could make two drawers to fit under the table top. I will mention one of these units are an excellent way to make a wood topped table for your shop.Next step was to weld angle iron for the drawers to slide on, they where salvaged from and old bed frame, bed to bed metal. I had previously welded a short piece of metal from the frame to the ends of the bed frame, I didn't need it to tip anymore.The next step was to make wooden drawers and shelves for the ends. I put a sheet of steel on for a table top as he works with oily motors. I plugged it in to see how well it worked, it didn't work well at all, it jammed up and stalled out. The way the linkage to raise and lower changes and jammed on my drawer slides, Back to drawing board, I could see the problem. had to cut the drawer slides off and raise them 2 inches, and of course cut two inches off the top of the drawers. I tested it out this time before I put that heavy piece of steel table top on, It was salvaged from a delivery truck bed.The drawersw where simply made, thick sides, 1/2 plywood bottom, glues to the bottom of the sides and then a strip of metal with screws, the drawer is sliding metal on metal and well greased with Vasaline, smooth action.
The drawers are long and can be pulled out from either side.
I like the drawer pules I made, copper pipe, sanded on lathe, wood ends with one screw threw the end and pipe also.One support for the top in the center and a also a piece of wood above each drawer so you can pull it out along way without it dropping downA simple box shelf was made and screwed to the head and foot board, in this picture you can see the drawer support wood.Steel top bolted on, Loaded and ready to surprise Mike, Hospital beds have great casters so I was able to load it myself.This will replace this table.He works hard, repairing most anything, he was a student of mine 30 40 years ago, hurt in the logging industry shortly after graduation.This was a fun easy project being as large as it is, I am sure it was much appreciated. It may not be all wood but I think it is a great idea for a work table for a wood shop. I would raise the top above the bed level and fill that area in with deeper drawers. More storage and the top of the table can be raised to a standing work height. I will be looking for one to replace the one I have in my shop. They are available, was talking to a doctor and he said they are always replacing them with better ones. One can just ask what they do with the old ones.Thanks for looking, comments appreciated.

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Little step stool made with Hickory and pine.

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(from Lumberjocks.com)


Small step stool I made for a friend.

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Bandsaw Outfeed Table

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(from Lumberjocks.com)


I have been cutting some long pieces on my bandsaw and I got tired of trying to balance them on the little stock table, so I added an outfeed table. Just some scraps from around the shop and I put some plastic laminate on it. It bolts to the table on one side and has an adjustable leg on the other side so I can level it. Thanks for looking.

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