Age catching up with me

[Ed in Tampa]

Last week I asked for and received many good ideas on how to redesign my workbench. Well yesterday I discovered a new problem.

For the last 20 years I have stored my SS bandsaw over the the hot water heater and well pressure tank in my garage (well pressure tanks are about the same size as a 40 gal hot water tank) that put the shelf it sits on about 53 inches off the floor. No problem, that is until I went to lift it down yesterday.

I don't know when I last used it, I think about month ago but in that time, time has taken it's toll. Yesterday I thought I was going to split a gut trying to lift it down and then back up when I finished with it.

My wife was watching me put it back up and started to chuckle and mentioned something about an old man and not being able to do what I did when I was younger, grrrrrrrr.

I don't know the exact weight of the SS bandsaw but I'm quickly approaching the point where I can't/shouldn't lift that much weight to a 53 inch height with a full arm extension.

I had to take my jointer off that shelf about 4 years ago and now it looks like the bandsaw is next however my floor and for that matter my wall space is limited. I'm starting to think I need to do a complete redo of my garage shop.

I'm looking for ideas, how do you guys store your SPT's like the jointer and bandsaw? I know SS has the storage station but I'm probably going to have to take out a cabinet to make room for my solution so I'm looking for something that also has storage room. Even a roll around cart is a problem because of the height of the bandsaw.

I know you guys have great ideas so please share them
Ed

[charlese]

Ed, my friend, I feel your pain! Don't have any excellent ideas for a shop re-model other than what has been posted, but can offer a little (advice?) that has seemed to help me. About a year or so ago I started to do upper body exercises (trunk, (they now call it the core) arms and shoulder). These haven't made me any stronger, but I think I'm not loosing any more strength, and have even lost weight (7 lbs) around my middle.

If you continue to have problems lifting the bandsaw and want to put the jointer back up on that shelf, how about a light block and tackle outfit, or a come-a-long or electric winch?

Although we can't compare shop space, I find the SS Storage Station a real boon! Recent posts have even suggested drawer storage under the Storage Station.

[Ed in Tampa]

Chuck
Weight might be the problem my doctor scared the begeebees out of me in Aug and I have since lost 50+ lbs and I'm still trying to shed more. I'm sure I lost some muscle in the dieting. However I think the bandsaw's weight coupled with fact I must use a full arm extension forward and up says it is only a matter of time until it becomes more than I want to handle.

I have thought of hoist but they are a little too too for me if you know what I mean. I think the storage station is in line with my solution but right now I'm trying to figure where I would put it or something like it.

Someone pointed in this forum or another, to a site where the guy had a completely mobile shop in his garage. He built a work bench and instead of permanent storage under it had moveable carts with tool storage which also served as infeed and outfeed tables and his main work table.

I thought it was a terrific idea but not well suited for Shopsmith tools, mainly because of the Shopsmith height and the fact the table height changes. So I was wondering if anyone had done anything similar only incorporating Shopsmith height considerations and adjustability.
Ed

[fixit]

Hi Ed,

I built a shelf along one wall of my shop where I store my SPTs. I'll post a picture so you can see what it looks like (as long as you don't look at the mess around it!). My shop is a shambles right now. I've just completed a major project and have "stuff" all over the place rather than where it's supposed to be.

Picture later today.
Edited to add pictures.

[Greenvilleguy]

Ed,

I had a similar problem with my jointer. It's obviously gained weight over the years.

Right now, I have my jointer on a shelf that is about the same height as where it mounts on the SS. It's just one of those plastic shelving units sold at Home Depot / Lowes with 5 shelves that catch everthing including sawdust. This eliminates the need to bend over to pick it up or reach up to put it away.

I'm in the (very slow) process of building cabinets and plan to eliminate my open plastic shelves.

I've been thinking of a roll around cart with a place on top for the jointer and belt sander, a place to hang the main table and extention tables on one side and a place to hang the fence and tailstock on the other side. I'm thinking I can add drawer to the ends.

Has anyone built anything like this???

[edski]

Ed,

Here's how I stored my jointer and bandsaw. I constructed two shelves on a wall, one above the other. The jointer was place on the lower shelf so I could pick it up by placing my hands on each end of the jointer with almost fully extended arms and lifting with my legs. I only had to lift it up a few inches to clear the shelf and then lower it a few inches onto the SS. The bandsw was stored on the shelf above the jointer. I'd grab the bandsaw with my elbows bent and the bs table below eye level. One hand on the back of the bs and the front under the table. Here again I could pick it up with my legs doing the work.

If you can create a similar storage situation it works pretty good.

edski

1992 SS 510

[Ed in Tampa]

Hi Ed,

I built a shelf along one wall of my shop where I store my SPTs. I'll post a picture so you can see what it looks like (as long as you don't look at the mess around it!). My shop is a shambles right now. I've just completed a major project and have "stuff" all over the place rather than where it's supposed to be.

Picture later today.
Edited to add pictures.

I like your idea what is the shelves made of 2x10?
Ed

[dusty]

Just don't let yourself get to feeling as though you are alone. I have just begun the task of rebuilding by SPT storage facilities for the very reasons that you describe.

I cannot handle the weight and the awkwardness of these items as I once did. The jointer got my attention first and then the bandsaw. The jointer because of its weight and the bandsaw because of the frequency of relocation and the height where I keep it.

The new standard for everything shall be "at about waist level" for reasons pointed out by others here.

An over head hoist is "out-of-the-question" today. In years to come, it may be the only way.

Somebody said, I believe in a country song, "I'm as good ONCE as I ever was". That's me, I can lift it (the jointer that is) once, twice is becoming questionable.

Charlese has another very, very good recommendation (by example). More appropriate exercise and (in my case) weight loss. My weight not the jointer!:)

[nuhobby]

I turned a small old computer desk into my Jointer stand. I used a couple pieces of hardwood with 1-1/4" holes in them to match the jointer tubes. Also I added just the right chock-blocks, glued down, to get the jointer to sit level and stable. I shored-up the underside of the poor desk with some 2x4 leg buttressing.

All told, mainly it's a way to keep that jointer at about the right grip location to carry it over to the Mark V. As everyone is agreeing, no need to do more vertical lifting than necessary with a 53-pound jointer!

Best Regards,

[dusty]

Don't forget to use stop collars on each SPT that you frequently relocate. This way you can set it in place and you're through lifting. The SPT settles in properly adjusted for the power coupler.