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Or at least the wheel lift.
As I mentioned in another thread, I built the Wood magazine mobile base for my bandsaw. I used a modified version of it on the HF 6" jointer that I recently sold and for Ginger's lathe table. The one thing I have never liked about the design is the way the cam lift lever operates, especially if it is on the end of the base and under part of the tool like on the jointer.
Since I have to make a new base/stand for the Rockwell Delta 8" jointer, I decided to figure out a better method to set the casters. I have also been wanting to get away from the stock caster configuration on my BT, so I decided that would be the 'victim'.
My original idea was to have the casters on a fixed plate and the leveling legs mounted on the hinged plate, passing through a slotted hole in the fixed plate. A couple of coil springs slipped over the shaft between the plates would lift the legs out of the way when the tool was in mobile mode. Problem I found was that the leveling leg shaft would need to be 3" or more long to allow enough movement and space for the springs.
Another trip to the drawing board (work table, actually, since this was design on the fly!) and I came up with a workable design. The prototype was cut from 3/4 MDF with no attempt to make it 'pretty', just to test the feasability. The final product will be made from Maple. The block for the cam lever swivel pin will 2 face glued layers of either 1/2" Maple stock with the grain at 90 degrees to add strength, or 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood. I think either way will work.
Caster pedal in up position.
Caster pedal down and the saw lifted. I put a flat on the lever past the high spot on the cam lobe that 'locks' it in the down position.
To make sure it was easy to operate, I had Ginger lift it on and off the casters both from the end of the saw and standing behind it. Even with the back and ankle problems she has, she had no trouble lifting the saw.
Now I need to call my contact at Darnell-Rose and order 4 more swivel casters. I will make the lifts for the BT but won't mount them until the new casters arrive. That way, if there is a delay (They are custom assembled to order), I can get started on the base for the jointer.
Comment, good or bad, to the design are welcomed.
As I mentioned in another thread, I built the Wood magazine mobile base for my bandsaw. I used a modified version of it on the HF 6" jointer that I recently sold and for Ginger's lathe table. The one thing I have never liked about the design is the way the cam lift lever operates, especially if it is on the end of the base and under part of the tool like on the jointer.
Since I have to make a new base/stand for the Rockwell Delta 8" jointer, I decided to figure out a better method to set the casters. I have also been wanting to get away from the stock caster configuration on my BT, so I decided that would be the 'victim'.
My original idea was to have the casters on a fixed plate and the leveling legs mounted on the hinged plate, passing through a slotted hole in the fixed plate. A couple of coil springs slipped over the shaft between the plates would lift the legs out of the way when the tool was in mobile mode. Problem I found was that the leveling leg shaft would need to be 3" or more long to allow enough movement and space for the springs.
Another trip to the drawing board (work table, actually, since this was design on the fly!) and I came up with a workable design. The prototype was cut from 3/4 MDF with no attempt to make it 'pretty', just to test the feasability. The final product will be made from Maple. The block for the cam lever swivel pin will 2 face glued layers of either 1/2" Maple stock with the grain at 90 degrees to add strength, or 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood. I think either way will work.
Caster pedal in up position.
Caster pedal down and the saw lifted. I put a flat on the lever past the high spot on the cam lobe that 'locks' it in the down position.
To make sure it was easy to operate, I had Ginger lift it on and off the casters both from the end of the saw and standing behind it. Even with the back and ankle problems she has, she had no trouble lifting the saw.
Now I need to call my contact at Darnell-Rose and order 4 more swivel casters. I will make the lifts for the BT but won't mount them until the new casters arrive. That way, if there is a delay (They are custom assembled to order), I can get started on the base for the jointer.
Comment, good or bad, to the design are welcomed.
JK
Welcome to the school of life
Loring in Katy, TX USA
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