Workbench with tool rotator

[Thalermade]

Figured this was the best place for the subject. Do not remember seeing one in my years of wandering through Sears stores or tool catalogues.

Rare original Sears Rotating Workbench - $250 - (Maineville, OH) pic


on the flip side
Russ

[lebomike]

Looks like they had a good idea, however it must have failed somewhere since it has not been seen. I know I have never seen one in all my years of shopping at Sears. I hit the tool area everytime I get to their stores.
Mike

[Thom2]

I've only ever seen a few of these, my grandfather actually had one for years.

Neat idea, good concept, but really didn't off much space saving in the grand scheme of things. The Tool Dock stations, that came along later, were a much better idea IMO.

[crokett]

Interesting concept.

Thom, why didn't it save all that much space?

[bfrikken]

i saw one not too recently with tools included on our local CL.

[Thom2]

Thom, why didn't it save all that much space?

If you look at the pivot point and take note of the distance to the top of the deck from there, you can see that the height of your tools is severely limited. Anything much taller than a bench grinder or scrollsaw is going to hit the bottom when being rotated. There is also absolutely no storage whatsoever, and really no way to utilize any space to add it.

At one time I really wanted one of these, but considering the limitations on the size of the tools that can be mounted, I never really saw any benefit to the whole rotation thing. The tools are probably light enough to just be removed and stored on a shelf taking up much less room. I guess it could work if you wanted to primarily use it as a workbench with the option of flipping up a scrollsaw or something. I still think you'd be much better off with a normal workbench and storage space underneath.

For the dead space it takes up, I think you really need to have a very specific need for this arrangment to make it worthwhile to add to the shop. IMO, that's probably the reason they didn't sell so well.

[leehljp]

Sears used to have a set of "benchtop" tools that was designed to fit on it. Of course you could put non-Sears tools on it if they would fit. I bought a small desktop planer and a small scroll saw that was designed for it and brought them to Japan. They were "adequate" for small jobs and better than nothing.

It seems like recently that someone here (or it could have been another forum) posted a home made table that did the same thing. I remember that Sears table and concept well and contemplated making one for my limited space over on this side of the ocean.

$250 used and it used to be about $69.00 / $79.00 range new, IIRC.

[Uncle Cracker]

I remember the Sears stores around here always had them on display, and they were always broken. Kept me from buying one...

[Tequila]

I saw one on clearance at a Sears Hardware about 6 or 7 years ago. I found some reviews at the time that discussed how only smallish bench tools fit on there, and that it could be difficult to pivot if all 3 tools weren't about the same weight.

[Flatlander]

I had one of these before a fire destroyed everything. You are somewhat limited by the size of the tool, but I had a belt/disk sander, 6" jointer and scrollsaw on this. Only one tool has to be short enough to rotate at the bottom, and be shorter than 2 feet. I would love to have a replacement, but I got mine as a gift many years ago, and I think it costs about $100 new when they were out. I wouldn't pay over $50 for it.

[Sid]

I have one that I found used a few years ago for about $50(?). I use it, but I pretty much agree with Thom2's comments on space. Wouldn't consider it for a second at that asking price.

If the tools on each side aren't approximately the same weight you have to be careful it doesn't get away from you when you're rotating it--could catch a finger and do real damage. Original tables are 5/8" MDF, which I couldn't find, so when I replaced one I used 1/8" masonite glued to 1/2" particle board.

Sid

[fcpjax]

Workbench with tool rotator example

Hi,
I have had one for about 10 years and I like it but I do plan on building the tower system too. This started to rust so I painted it to go with my color scheme of Red, Black, & White. I left one side open so I could use it as a table top and pile stuff on top when I was not using it.
Here are some pictures: