Re: Portable work surface

["Pa_Bound" <nospamhere@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am right there with you.  With current recovery from total knee
replacement and another on the way getting down is not a pretty sight.
Currently I can find a bucket or a stack of construction stuff to put my
plans on so I have a work-around of sorts.

I was considering using a fold-up step stool.  One with at least 3 steps and
the top step being similar to a seat or chair so you could sit down on those
rough days.  That is unless you have a "wide end" of course.  Then a piece
of plywood could be sized right and attached to the top handle with a hinged
leg or legs for support.  The plywood would have some sort of clips or pins
that would match the top of the handle.  All would fold up and fit in your
truck and would easily be set up as needed.

I have not done this myself but I don't see a reason it would not work.
Once assembled it may need some tweaks but they would be minimal.  It might
depend on the height above the floor you would like the 'table' so some
extensions may be needed.  But only a few inches or so.  Could easily be
done with a couple of 2x4's.

Hope that got your brain juices flowing.

If you are interested I could draw it up in a conceptual layout if you can't
visualize the above.  Could send it a .pdf.

Let me know if you actually build one.

Have a good weekend.

Les


"JoeRaisin" <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:kg7p3l$lrl$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I would like to have some sort of portable work bench/table that I can stow
>in my truck.
>
> My truck is a pick up with an 8ft bed and a topper that does not extend
> above the cab.  Inside the bed I've divided it roughly down the center
> with one side having shelves and tool bag storage and the other with
> ladder hutches (8, 6 ft ladders laid flat & 4 ft on its side) and space
> for wire spools/boxes, equipment to be installed and other material
> (really just open area above the ladder hutch).
>
> I was looking at the black and decker workmate but it really isn't all
> that compact when folded.
>
> Do any of you use something like that?  The older I get the farther away
> the ground gets and working off a print laying on the cold concrete of a
> commercial construction project is getting old.
>
> I've gone so far as to try and design something I could build myself but
> since I don't weld or have the ability to shape metal (cut and drill,
> sure, but nothing beyond that), everything I can figure out would still be
> too clunky - I guess I'm not as creative as I would have liked to believe.
>
> If you have something proven I'd even be willing to take it to a welder -
> but I haven't done that with anything I've come up with as I don't really
> want to put out the cash on spec.
>
> Work carts are nice but you have to have a van to stow one of those - so
> anything portable and compact along those lines would be great as well.
>
> If you guy know of any products or have even built something along those
> lines I would greatly appreciate it... And these old legs would thank you
> as well.