Adjustable height (for the top) workbench and support for tools and outfeed table

I made something similar but with a different elevation changing set up. Attached are a couple of Sketchup renditions and a cut away line drawing. It works well and I have used it for 10 years but is a little cumbersome to change the height, requiring me to work around the bench changing the elevation in small increments. If I had a second person it would be easier. I have always thought I should add a scissors jack or some sort of hydraulics. Also while I left the lower part open you could add doors or drawers. I did put shelves in the end between the supports.
I used bolts and threaded star knobs to secure the adjustment stops on the 4 corners.. Also on the elevating supports I marked them with rulers to reverence each corners adjustment and get things level.

-- Les B, Oregon

Looks like a lot of adjustments. I don’t know how much travel you need but you could allow the top to move up on posts and have a milled block to act as a spacer to get to table saw height.

Looks like a lot of adjustments. I don t know how much travel you need but you could allow the top to move up on posts and have a milled block to act as a spacer to get to table saw height.

- controlfreak

I considered that as well but the issue is that I have an uneven floor and the table saw and the workbench might not necessarily land in the same position every time -hence the need to adjust every time. I can use what you said as a quick setup and see if it works, the designs do not exclude that option

I made something similar but with a different elevation changing set up. Attached are a couple of Sketchup renditions and a cut away line drawing. It works well and I have used it for 10 years but is a little cumbersome to change the height, requiring me to work around the bench changing the elevation in small increments. If I had a second person it would be easier. I have always thought I should add a scissors jack or some sort of hydraulics. Also while I left the lower part open you could add doors or drawers. I did put shelves in the end between the supports.

- LesB

Nice design but I want to keep it simple and my router is not in place yet
I think that the all thread rod design is safer but the other design could be used as a bench wise if you take the table top out :-)

Wondering if you could use hinges on the tops of the posts to allow full height adjustment on one side and then the other without having to do incremental adjustments going around the table.

Wondering if you could use hinges on the tops of the posts to allow full height adjustment on one side and then the other without having to do incremental adjustments going around the table.

- controlfreak

have to be heavy duty
the other thing is that you lose the option to use the vise in the first design

You might want to look at the plans for a Jack-bench, https://www.jack-bench.com/ he has been around for a while. I am still thinking I might build one, just have not gotten around to it yet. Dan

You might want to look at the plans for a Jack-bench, https://www.jack-bench.com/ he has been around for a while. I am still thinking I might build one, just have not gotten around to it yet. Dan

- RDan

That is definitely a nice idea but it will take from the under the table space.
If I find two cheap auto jacks I could attach them at each side, on the exterior ! Good point, thank you

So, this discussion spurred me into looking at some sort of jack system and I found scissor jacks from the basic automotive types for around $25 (some had mounting flanges on the top) to motorcycle jacks with larger platforms in the $60+ range. You might even find old car scissor jacks at the wrecking yard even cheaper.

I think I will add one of these to the bench design I posted above. That way I can release the 4 corner clamps adjust the height with the jack and re-clamp it. If the floor was uneven minor adjustments could be made by hand to level the top.

-- Les B, Oregon

I have always liked this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBX-AtmSFJA

-- A bad day woodworking is still better than a good day working.

So, this discussion spurred me into looking at some sort of jack system and I found scissor jacks from the basic automotive types for around $25 (some had mounting flanges on the top) to motorcycle jacks with larger platforms in the $60+ range. You might even find old car scissor jacks at the wrecking yard even cheaper.

I think I will add one of these to the bench design I posted above. That way I can release the 4 corner clamps adjust the height with the jack and re-clamp it. If the floor was uneven minor adjustments could be made by hand to level the top.

- LesB

I recycled a car not very long ago. I do not remember what I did with the jack :-( (I have had a very stressful couple of months this year)

You could buy this and the problem is solved

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/linnmon-finnvard-table-white-s09001986/

And here is the crank version

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/skarsta-underframe-sit-stand-f-table-top-white-20288736/

You could start with HD’s adjustable bench frame. It has a 300# capacity:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-46-in-Adjustable-Height-Work-Table-HOLT46XDB12/301809931

You can go for something with more capacity:
https://www.mcmaster.com/adjustable-height-bench-legs

Norden is an option:
http://www.adjustabench.com/about.asp

Good luck,

-- Doug - As my Dad taught me, you're not a cabinet maker until you can hide your mistakes.

You could buy this and the problem is solved

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/linnmon-finnvard-table-white-s09001986/

And here is the crank version

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/skarsta-underframe-sit-stand-f-table-top-white-20288736/

- MiniMe

The HD seems model seems to be a nice option
I need to crunch the numbers to see if I want to buid it myself or buy that one. I am afraid that the size that I need is going to cost more than if I build it from 2×4

BTW, would you advise straightening the 2×4s using the table saw?

If you don’t need all the different height ranges in between, but just two different heights, I would think about a second top with some spacer blocks in between. That way, you could have the lower needed height with the two tops laying on each other and the second height buy putting the blocks in between.
Easy to build, cheap and easy to adjust.

-- Uwe from Germany.