Herc-U-Lift worth the hassle?

[ErikS]

The instructions (forget the page #) detail where to drill the holes. It's under "universal stands" and you use the type with adjustable feet (as per the BT stand)

IIRC -

It's 3 1/8" from the bottom edge of the leg. For side to side spacing I simpy measured the bracket from the herc-u-lift. I measured & drilled one hole for each bracket, mounted the bracket, and used the bracket as a guide for the second hole.

[tfischer]

The instructions (forget the page #) detail where to drill the holes. It's under "universal stands" and you use the type with adjustable feet (as per the BT stand)

IIRC -

It's 3 1/8" from the bottom edge of the leg. For side to side spacing I simpy measured the bracket from the herc-u-lift. I measured & drilled one hole for each bracket, mounted the bracket, and used the bracket as a guide for the second hole.

That's correct -- the instructions tell you everything you need to know (sometimes I think people are getting confused with all the anecdotal tips here on BT3 when the actual instructions are what you really need to follow...)

It's 3 1/8" from the bottom edge of the leg, and 1 1/2" in from the 'bend' in the leg, as per the instructions.

Good Luck,
-Tim

[pjwood]

Wow. Spent almost 6 hours attaching it to my Delta 14" band saw. Seems the problem is that the base is smaller then the Rigid in the picture which forced me to attached the brackets to the back of the saw and use the two remaing bars as extensitions. It really is a good set up with pleanty of quality parts.

[preamble]

Actually, the tips on here are far better than the instuctions. I'd imagine it would have taken at least twice as long to assemble using the instructions.

I used the bracket as a template for the hole locations; I held it to the inside of the leg about 1/8 above the existing holes and marked the location with a pencil.

[tfischer]

Actually, the tips on here are far better than the instuctions.

I didn't mean to diss the tips given (heck I've given plenty myself). I'm just surprised to see posts requesting info about things that are directly mentioned in the steps of the included instructions -- such as the precise dimensions on where to drill those holes.

Also, there appears to be some variation in how people are affixing these to a BT3 -- some are using the front extensions, some are not (instructions say not for 28x28"). Some are using the chain, others (including me) are not. I didn't find any 'gotchas' in the instructions -- although some find them hard to follow due to the fact you have to refer to the back of the manual for the dimensions. But the 28x28" dimensions were spot on for me -- I didn't have to futz with anything at all once I got it under the saw.

-Tim

[RmeDad]

I love my Herc-U-Lifts!

God Bless Ridgid!

[JackAZ]

Just my $ 0.02 worth...Installed the Herc under my Bt3100 last week and wonder how I've worked without it. One hidden benefit - I was using the HT universal base which added a little height to the table...the Herc brings it back down to the floor. For a 5'-6" guy, this is no small benefit!

[lateott]

One hidden benefit - I was using the HT universal base which added a little height to the table...the Herc brings it back down to the floor. For a 5'-6" guy, this is no small benefit!

Excellent point!

Ergonomics are critical for safe operation. So in addition to convenience and mobility, it sounds like a huge safety improvement.

[sacherjj]

That is funny. The reason I purchased the HT-2000 from Amazon as my mobile base is that it ADDED height to the saw. But I'm on the opposite end of the height issues at 6' 5".

[Ishmel]

whoops

Thanks for the tips on drilling the holes. I thought I'd read the instructions carefully, but I missed the directions on where to drill. Honestly, I have young kids too and put together stuff like this all the time, but with the directions in 3 (or 4, was one of them english) languages, and having to flip pages things got a little lost for me.

I'll take a closer look tonight.

[jvarga]

Herc-U-Lift worked out well.

The Herc-U-Lift really worked out fine. I didn't remove the cross front piece, rather raised it and the rear cross member. Built a platform to store my fences.

[lateott]

Another suggestion...

After stowing my BT3100 with this stand I was thinking some people might consider installing the Herc-U-Lift backwards, in other words with the pedal mechanism at the back rather than the front.

Think about where and how you stow the saw when not using it. I actually stow mine with the front of the saw against the wall as this puts the SMT into an unused nook of space near the wall instead of having the SMT stick out into the garage where I run into it all the time. This way I don't have to unlatch the SMT and put it on backwards to get it out the walking space in the garage. Putting the lift on backwards allows me to operate the pedal vs. having it inaccessible against the wall (and basically having to stow the saw up on the wheels all the time.)

When I use the saw it is in the driveway or in the middle of the garage with space to walk all around, so accessing the pedal is easy enough no matter where it is (I can walk all around it.)

Many people might do something similar. Although it is intuitive to put the pedal in the front, it might make more sense to put it on the most accessible side when the saw is stowed.

Lots of words to describe a simple idea, but hopefully it will help someone else...

[NJFrank]

The Herc-U-Lift really worked out fine. I didn't remove the cross front piece, rather raised it and the rear cross member. Built a platform to store my fences.

Great idea, it never crossed my mind to do that

[jbalders]

Pics of my saw

Here are some pics of the Herc-U-Lift Plus mounted in my saw. I originally set it up based on the 28x28 instructions, and made some minor tweaks because it didn't go up high enough (hit the horizontal leg brace) and the casters still lifted the saw when dropped down. It would only work properly when the casters were facing inwards. I tried removing the front leg brace as recommended in the instructions, but the legs flexed too much. The two variably sized horizontal pieces with the set screws are also set smaller than recommended for the 28x28 configuration.

This arrangement allows the base to go up a little higher, allowing more latitude for the casters. I still have some issues when a given caster is facing its leg. In order to lift the saw, I have to push down on it through the top front opening, but that's not a major issue for me. I used the extensions in the back, but not the front. I have the feet set about midway -- about 3/8" between nut and foot.

To attach the spring, I used a 3/16" bit (they recommend a 1/4"), and drilled the bottom flange of the BT itself, not the stand. It seemed like a better arrangement to me, since it would pull up straighter.

Pics are: back right, front right, and full frontal. If anyone would like more, larger, different pics, let me know.

[Brian G]

Did anyone else's Herc-U-Lift Plus (from here on, HULP) come in black? All of the photos of HULPs that I have viewed show it in grey. Mine is black.

Jeff, I had a similar problem. I fiddled with the leveling feet of the BT until I found a happy medium. I still have to "kick" the castors to get them facing the right direction.