Shopsmith Forums

I previously used ordinary folding-leg tables but they proved to be inadequate for heavy work.

I wanted a folding-leg table that had a dead flat top, strong legs, and removable casters on the table-edge so I could roll the table instead of dragging it.

The result is the table shown. I built two. Top is just a 4x8 3/4" plywood sawn to 2x8. Sides are 2x4's thru-bolted to the top. On the 2x4's I bolted 1/4" thk long steel plates, these are what keep the top flat and straight. Casters are demountable, they plug into blocks mounted on the table edges. One problem with these blocks is - don't make them from wood. Use steel. Wood breaks under the stress.

Tables are heavy but no problem because they roll to wherever they are needed. T-nuts, socket head screws and locknuts used throughout. Thru holes only, no tapped holes in wood.

Table legs - Tent and Table SKU AX-BT3096LG. This buys 1 pair of legs.

Casters - SurplusCenter.com, P/N 1-3366. Two casters per table. The stem on these has no threads - they plug into a hole on the table. I think the wheel dia is 4". Don't buy threaded stems unless you are ready to use a wrench every time you want to remove the casters. Don't buy tiny wheels, buy a 4" dia minimum.

The steel plates underneath were from Home Depot.

For the "beginning" woodworker, this would be an ideal first project. Just need a Shopsmith - and a table...

just a tip when posting pictures , I create a folder on my computer desk top and send a copy of the photo to it then up load it to the forum from the desk top folder . I have a lot of folders showing up in your attachment . jmo

SteveMaryland wrote: ↑Sat Nov 13, 2021 12:30 pm I previously used ordinary folding-leg tables but they proved to be inadequate for heavy work.

I wanted a folding-leg table that had a dead flat top, strong legs, and removable casters on the table-edge so I could roll the table instead of dragging it.

The result is the table shown. I built two. Top is just a 4x8 3/4" plywood sawn to 2x8. Sides are 2x4's thru-bolted to the top. On the 2x4's I bolted 1/4" thk long steel plates, these are what keep the top flat and straight. Casters are demountable, they plug into blocks mounted on the table edges. One problem with these blocks is - don't make them from wood. Use steel. Wood breaks under the stress.

Tables are heavy but no problem because they roll to wherever they are needed. T-nuts, socket head screws and locknuts used throughout. Thru holes only, no tapped holes in wood.

Table legs - Tent and Table SKU AX-BT3096LG. This buys 1 pair of legs.

Casters - SurplusCenter.com, P/N 1-3366. Two casters per table. The stem on these has no threads - they plug into a hole on the table. I think the wheel dia is 4". Don't buy threaded stems unless you are ready to use a wrench every time you want to remove the casters. Don't buy tiny wheels, buy a 4" dia minimum.

The steel plates underneath were from Home Depot.
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For the "beginning" woodworker, this would be an ideal first project. Just need a Shopsmith - and a table...

Looks nice! Thanks for pdf!

photos in the pdf

I have improved my utility tables with two improvements.

1. Casters allow for table portability - table does not stand on the casters when in use. These casters are the "plug-in" type, not the bolt-on type. They have a 7/16" dia pin-stud instead of a threaded stud. This allows for easy caster removal. The bore that they plug into has to be very strong - stronger than the oak blocks I used originally. Those blocks cracked, and I glued, and they cracked again. I wanted to replace them with steel, but I am not setup for heavy steel work, and I did not want to go to a machine shop. So I had a metal sales shop (Metals Supermarkets) cut me some blank aluminum blocks, which I bored out (I can at least bore aluminum). Then I got hardened steel "drill bushings" from McMaster Carr, and pressed these into the blocks. Also I thru-bolted the blocks onto the table instead of just wood screws. So now I have really strong caster mounting blocks that will never break at the wrong time and mess up my work schedule.

2. Each folding leg mechanism presents a pair of legs, and these legs are strong but I wanted something with more ground bearing that would allow me to drag a table across rough surfaces without leg damage. So now each leg pair is joined by a single wood stretcher. Tables are now much more stable and durable than before.

These metal sales shops (Online metals, Metals Supermarkets etc) are a good resource. As is McMaster Carr. They do the heavy cutting, and thus allow us to incorporate more metal into our projects than we otherwise would.

These tables have become indispensable in my Shopsmith work. I highly recommend this table design as a build project for a new or old woodworker or anyone else who needs a large, strong yet portable work platform.

Come to think of it, a decent general purpose portable platform might be a good new Shopsmith product - or at least the hardware kit to make one.

Note all that the casters are mounted on the horizontal rails of the table frame just below the top.

Took me a while to understand that.