Wow, I didn't expect Autoquip to see this video. Your lift has been a big part of my shop for about 10 years now. This has been one of the few pieces of equipment that hasn't needed any attention. Really well made piece of gear. Thank you for the comment.
Watched this a few times over a few months.. this video is better every time i watch it. Thank you for taking the time to make it and sharing your thoughts
Thank you. Great build, excellent video. That scissor lift find was the type of lucky treasure hunt that ends up major in the history of most of our shops.
Great build. I like how you explain the reasoning behind the mods you make. I have been looking for an adjustable height assembly bench but had not considered hydraulic scissor lift. Sucks that the hold down clamps wouldn't go through 1" material without modification. Keep up the good work.
What a great idea. I'm looking forward to building a smaller version for an outfeed/assembly table for my garage. I like your video style and of course your craftsmanship. Fun in your videos is always good too. It would be fun to see you and Ron Paulk collaborate on something.
Thank you. Yes, this bench would make a perfect outfield table. I would love to work with Ron Paulk, he is sort of the opposite of me. He like to plan things, I just jump in.
That's a great idea. I was thinking of buying a motorcycle lift, and I could make a bench to make an outfeed table for my table saw. This is giving me ideas for making my space as versatile as I need for my various projects.
I was in a car accident 38 years ago that left me in a wheelchair, I am a long time wood working hobbyist (since grade school) and it would make building projects so much more enjoyable to be able to raise and lower the height of the project. I have been looking for a lifting table for many years and still cant locate one. the closest that I got was an obsolete hospital bed that I thought was strong enough to work on and I was going to purchase it, but the bean counters at the medical building thought they may have liability selling it to me so they changed their minds…oh well, the hunt continues! you did a great job modifying it and when I finally locate one, I will do the same...thanks for the video and continue to make sawdust!
Mike, my first bench was on a scissors table lift with a Norm Abram designed torsion box bench (minus the legs on it) that I built. Wished I had never sold it but the guy who bought it wouldn’t take no for an answer and kept offering me a higher price until I said yes. You did a good job on yours. Ron
While working in a door factory we had an o-ring fail on a lift table very similar to yours. The table bottomed out in an instant. That gave me a new respect for hydraulics. Your table build is enviable and the vacuum in the table is awesome!
@@MikeFarrington AvE is an amazingly funny guy, but just as brilliant & gifted in his engineering knowledge (or so I'm told, as I'm not a P.Eng. by any stretch!). You have a GREAT channel, Mike, & I'm happily a new sub. Skookum as frig! Cheers from Manitoba, Canada.
Mike, excellent video. Maybe a boom arm of some sort to hold the hose up in the air off the table. Being in this business since the late 70s, I loathe MDF, if I have no choice and to use for a build, I suit up like a astronaut when cutting, the dust is murder on my lungs. I cough for you when I watch you work with the stuff...
Thanks, Mike. Great build. I see you've already incorporated a craft-paper roll at one end! Must-have! I found a supplied who does meter-wide rolls of waxed paper... awesome for glue-ups!
Hi Mike, I did not know about this video until someone sent me a link - brilliant and well done for choosing the Parf Guide System. I have now subscribed to your channel. Cheers. Peter
Peter, great to have you onboard and thank you very much for commenting. I purchased your system after watching your videos and a few others. My initial thought was that this would probably work OK. After using it, I am really impressed with the accuracy. Thank you for a neat tool. I have plans to make a couple more work tops, and I have plenty of jigs I plan to make taking advantage of the 90 degree pattern.
Hi Mike, You might like to look at my Isometric top, again created with the Parf Guide System. It may not suit your current needs but it does give you near perfect 30 degree and 60 degree cuts. czcams.com/video/SAKhSPBozms/video.html Cheers. Peter
I have seen this video, thank you for suggesting it. I have the idea stored away in the back of my mind should the need arise. Thank you again for a product that does what it says its going to do. Rare these days.
I have taken the liberty of creating a new thread on the Festool Owners Group forum featuring your excellent video. They all know me quite well but I could find no mention of your name and I think that it is time for them to take notice - particularly as the FOG is a US dominated forum ! here is the link: festoolownersgroup.com/member-projects/mike-farrington/msg555814/?topicseen#msg555814 I also think it is time for you to be introduced to the Parf Dogs from Lee Valley and the Parf Super Dogs from Axminster. Also, stay tuned as there are plenty of my jig and work holding items in development at Axminster. Peter
Thank you Peter, that is very kind. Word of mouth is always welcome. I am certainly interested in the Parf dogs. I have used dog holes for many years with the Festool clamps and that was very helpful. After a few days with the new Parf System holes, my mind is racing with ideas on how to better utilize the 90 degree pattern. I really think this system is something of an unrecognized genius, accept for those who have used it first hand. I am very curious to see what you guys come up with. Keep at it!
Great build and love the inclusion of the shop vac.. I might try and pick up an old Dyson motor on ebay and see how that works in my own torsion box! Did you consider hanging a dust bag under the collection box, might work a bit like a cyclone??
Thank you Stuart. I think any old shop vac motor could be adapted. I didn't think of hanging a bag, thats a good idea. If this doesn't work, I was going to hook up vac bags in the dust collection area. I made sure to size that area so I could use commonly found bags.
Nice tabletop system, here i was thinking i was going to have to sell my heavy duty moto lift to make room for a woodworking table, now i know how to convert it and have both! Thanks for the great content!
Pretty cool. I like that scissor lift, but alas my days of a fixed built shop are behind me and I think getting it in and out of the trailer on jobs would be a bit of challenge😎🤙
Mike, you won't regret it. I bought all of Ron's plans and built just the bench. I figured it's the least I could do for the amount of effort he put into it. I use it on a DAILY basis. If not as a full 4 by 8, I use it the most as a 2 by 8 mini bench.
Aaron Berk I’m a big fan of Ron Paul’s. I purchase all the plans as well and have used his sketchup contributions to fit out my single car garage work shop. And love my RPWB. His hours and hours of how to vids are my best investment.
Great build and a nice bench, the lift you have is very strong. It looks as if our NHS in England has ripped off the idea because most of the modern day beds have a very similar system. I would like to build one of those the only trouble I would have is that my entire work shop is only 6 ft by 8 ft and I have to keep all my tools in there as well.
A really smart design, Mike. I now live in a condo where my minimal woodwork is confined to a mitrebox on the kitchen counter with my 40+ year-old wall cabinet of hand tools in my laundry room plus an electric drill and jig saw. I have a hardware store plastic set of drawers for sandpaper, drill bits etc and wall-mounted labeled mini drawers for screws etc. I enjoy seeing your more recent inventions such as biscuits/dominoes, and hearing your lucid and amusing explanations to us armchair wood-wording amateurs. In closing, I always enjoy your outside shots of the Rockies to the west which reminds me of driving along I 40 & I 70 to ski in Winter Park.
Love your skies and laughed out loud at your shop assistant whacking the trash can with the mailing tube. What fun! There's a kid on CZcams who used Festool 32mm shelf pin hole track to lay out a 96mm grid (every third hole makes 96mm) like Peter Parfitt's system. For tightwads like myself that would reduce the out-of-pocket to paying for the Parf System's long-center-spur 20mm bit, some pins, and Parfitt's slick little spring clips to float guide track up and down on his tall pins set at any spacing. Thanks for posting and keep up the good work.
The sleep number bench... I have the same issue with the hose and I will probably drop mine from the ceiling. Not really a good option for you though. Whats frustrating is using the track so and the ridges of the hose catch the edge of something. You think your saw is cutting through something heavy, but its just stuck from the hose.
Thank you, I like that, the sleep number bench. I considered dropping from the ceiling, but that wouldn't solve the plug issue. With this setup the hose and the plug go to the same spot. This is just one in a million ways to solve the issue. The hose catching is a problem as well....
Dave Stanton has a good vid where he slides PET Braided Sleeving over a Festool hose to stop all the ridges catching on corners. I tried it. Easy. Cheap. Fast. Works! See czcams.com/video/s6zYwFmBOYg/video.html
Look a little further, there have been a couple. One guy told me to keep my ..... in a vise. AvE could be the funniest guy ever, and I would really like to think he would describe this lift as skookum as frig.
Hey Mike, LOVE THIS BENCH. After watching this video the first time, I went out and found a similar lift table at an auction. Question for ya- how deep is your grid work? I like the idea of some tool storage vs. wasted space
Getting your hoes to lie straight is, Donald says, dang difficult and potentially expensive..... Take a perfectly good tall dog and drill through it to then put Velcro/wire/bandage etc through it ...... Revised thoughts pt 2: drill a 45mm dia hole (or whatever size your vac hose dia is plus some wiggle room) through a 60mmx40x80 piece of solid wood. Then turn down the body of the wood to 19.6mm x 60mm into a Festool dog that ultimately has a hole through the top of the dog. Place dog in hole and feed hose through and use to position vac to manufacture 5 more. Place three in bag and post to me. Use yours to continue dust management and consequently make more entertaining vejayos.... Greetings again from SW Australia.
At a previous job, I had a hydraulic lift table that I could use. At first I thought "I'll never use this" but after the first time or two it became MY workbench. Funny you mentioned the motorcycle lift. I did exactly that for my home shop about a year ago. Got one from Harbor Freight and mounted my torsion box table top to it. It is immensely helpful to get he project at just the right height.
You really should be wearing a dust mask each time you use a power tool to shape or cut the MDF!!! That precious little one needs you to healthy so you can watch her experience life. MDF dust - BAD STUFF! Great video otherwise!
Also mdf for a large majority of manufacturers contains formaldehyde. Your little cabinet helper doesn’t need to be around that. ( Industrial cabinet maker 20 years.)
Thanks for sharing. I used a sheet of peg beard Plugged some holes and opened up the ones I wanted, harder than MDF. Screwed down to a sheet of 3/4 stuck easily replaced. Cheers, Billy in Canada
Excellent video. Nice blend of warmth, humor and instructional info. Definitely I'll use some of your ideas along with Ron's in building my portable bench along with the use of the 90 degree dogs I've not seen done before. I'm not sure how it could be accomplished, but I use a bag in my shop vac. In my old vac I rigged a pillowcase around an abs pipe with a larger adaptor on the end to hold it in place. I go 10 times longer before the vac begins to clog up. Of course I often am sucking up sheetrock dust. Again thanks for your wonderfully done share!
Thank you very much. I have considered using a bag. So far the only thing I have changed with this setup is I upgraded to a HEPA filter. Its been working great otherwise.
Great video, Mike! I have linear-actuated lifting on one of my workbenches, but really want to combine that feature into my primary work bench. Also, that Parf bench dog guide system looks amazing! I just wish there was a "rental" of something like that, as it doesn't seem like a jig/tool one would use often, unless you were setting up several bench tops, etc, with dog holes. Thanks for showing us such a cool work bench and configuration!
Thank you Seth. I agree, renting the parf guide would be great. Its certainly not cheap, but if you think about using it a bunch of times over many years it will pay for itself eventually.
Dealing with a garage that started life as a carport in my home shop. Realizing now a few projects in that not having a flat reference point from the floor is causing havoc with making things plum... Ugh.. Somethings you just don't learn until you do. Love your vids Mike!
I like the modification you personally made to eliminate the chances of sawdust caking up in your hair whilst working with all of that MDF. Thanks for all of the great tips this video has provided me. 😁👍
I agree with the suggestion that you wear a dust mask! You really want to be around when your apprentice is in the trade. Love your channel and great explanation of your builds.
Hi Mike, love your channel and the way off meticulous finishing your work, state off the art, and you are blessed with a very dedicated shop apprentice keeping it all clean, lucky man some have it all....
Gave me an idea for a knock down outfeed table/work bench. My original work bench was more of a jack of all bench, for wood, metal and auto needs so a big torsion box like that would definatly help! Great video as always.
Hey Mike! This is sweet! The way I’ve seen the hose issue addressed is a little u-shaped notch on the edge to grab that hose and keep it in place. The festool hoses with the sleeve are a little easier to manage maybe I’m too cheap to actually buy one and confirm. Lol.
Love it!. (Every time I think I've got how I'm going to build my bench figured out, someone comes along with a video that sends me back to the drawing board. )
The efficiency, of vacuuming, the same dust twice, seems a bit questionable, but i really love everything about this bench, except the vacuum, lol, I'm in process of basically duplicating it, many thanks for the ideas, and the video! I will be attaching a boom to closest wall by my bench, to manage air line, vacuum hose, lighting, and electrical. Also hope to come visit you someday, bought me 1.3 acres of a mountain, not to far from you.
There is certainly an efficiency loss to cleaning up the clean up, but it's maybe a couple minuets every other month. So not a big deal. I do think a boom would be better, and I will probably go that route as I build my shop more.
I’ve not long built something similar myself and the jigs you made at the end are a great idea I hadn’t thought about. If people don’t want to buy that part hole jig as it’s too expensive, then they could do what I did and find someone on eBay who has a Cnc machine who makes MFT replacement tops and use that as a guide 👍🏻 another great video mate, really enjoy your humour
Thank you. I agree on the cost of this system, and also CNC is a great option. In my case I have plans to build a few more different tops for around the shop and job site, so the cost will be spread over a few projects.
Vacuum Hose management idea.....Picture an IV pole....now adjust the length as needed. Take a properly sized shaft collar and clamp it on the cut end of the IV pole, measure the distance required for your thickness work bench thickness and position the shaft collar that distance from the end of the cut end. Then when insert into a dog hole the shaft collar will rest on the top surface of the bench top. The OD of the shaft collar will provide support for the IV pole concept, well basically a rod or pipe with one or even two bent rod hooks. The length of the pole under the shaft collar, while inserted in a dog hole, will provide lateral support. To think about it, the pole would not support anything without a dog hole. After the IV pole, or "The Pole with the Crazy Hook Things", is installed; using bungee wrapped around the vacuum hose, hook the bungee hooks on the hook on the pole. Or one could kick it up and install a ……. wait that will be coming soon. Great videos Mike, real down to earth and I enjoy all your videos.
Every time I watch one of your vids it costs me a bunch of money! I ordered the blum jig after the last one and now I want the parf system. Keep the vids coming, I watch a ton of youtube woodworking vids but always learn the most from yours.
I have a similar bench (also used PGS for the holes). I use an overhead hose and it's awesome. Make it long enough to reach the corners with a bit of slack and it never gets in the way or hangs up on the edge of the table. Looks like your ceiling is high, so maybe an arm (movable?) made out of a bit of pipe with a 90 degree bend in it and attach it to that grey wall next to the table (up & over to the bench). Kind of makes the inbuilt vacuum redundant though, but I think you'll be glad you did.
Me too! I found a lift very similar to that - but built right here, in southwestern Ontario, Canada. I bought it off of Kijji. lol! and also paid a fraction of what new would have been. and, I absolutely love it. It just shuts up and works! One can work on anything at at any height, either sitting down or standing... With my health, its as the only way I would get anything done... Am extremely grateful I found it. I too, have considered using a Paulk-style bench top on it. But, I kind of like the idea of using conventional bench dogs, and have red oak stashed away that I plan to laminate and create a solid 3-4" top with the edge grain as the top. That's my plan... some kind of vise on the side and an end vise, as budget allows. Great video! Glad to know I'm not the only one crazy enough to have a hydraulic workbench in a wood shop! :-)
A lift bench is nice to have for sure. I kicked around the idea of a solid top as well. I ended up going this direction because I am fortunate to have a more conventional bench as well.
Loved the build. Loved the numerous music track, love your dry humour and your superb narration of the task in hand. Oh yeah...and your Pro tip(s). Catching up on some nice builds in a view-a-thon today.
great build. for your 'hose management" maybe 2 x 20 mm dowels with a connector to space them between 2 rows of dog holes? like a giant staple - holds hose in place but easily moved- Tyler
Hey Mike. Great video. I also purchased the Parf Guide system. My bench top is 1" particle board with a laminate top. It was already built in. I started drilling the hole. When I got tired, I tried my Festool clamps. I am bummed, they won't go through the hole. I can't get to the underside to chamfer the holes. So I am screwed. I'm glad I didn't keep drilling any more holes. Keep up the great work. It is great to see your apprentice in the shop as well.
Sweet table. scissor lift is awesome. Hose management idea, you probly already thought of it, use pvc pipe, cut into 1inch wide segments and screw small pieces of wood that will fit in the bench dog holes. you can leave them on the hose and just push them all the way to the back end when you put the hose away. when you want to use them, they will slide enywhere along the hose you need. the square edges on the cut pvc segments will help hold the hose a little bit.
This video inspired me to hunt for a cheap scissor lift to build a bench. Found one being discarded from a local library. Some begging and 100 bucks later and I'm stoked. Won't be half as skookum as yours, but good enough for my little shop :)
Great vid!! Suggestion for dust collection... planter stake from a garden center... probably need to modify the stake button has a hook for holding hose up above work
Nice build. Ive been trying for months for my boss to get me a scissor lift. We have 3 of them in our shop but they are all at the beam saw. I will be making a new torsion box assembly table in the next few weeks. I love them. In my personal shop I have a 3 inch thick outfeed table and 4ftX8ft 4in thick assembly table torsion boxes. The vacuum in your table is an amazing idea. Please keep us updated on how it works.
@@MikeFarrington our beam saw is only used to cut adjustable shelve. We run 2 CNCs 16 to 20 hours a day for nearly everything else. Me and one other guy do all the custom assembly and 4 other guys do the regular production assembly.
I like how you say "chamfer" over there. I'm gonna start saying it like that. I always watch this and now I'm gonna make one this afternoon. Cheers Fazzleburger for another splendid video
@@MikeFarrington It's a scissor lift type like yours but I have to pump it up by foot although I do believe I could connect an air line? I've also got one of those double height scissor lift trolleys, really useful except it's all in storage at the moment until I finish building my workshop, one day. Have to admit, you yanks drive me nuts with your huge workshops. We're lucky if we've got a 4'x6' shed in the UK. ;) :(
Great job. Love the way you use the dog holes...By the way the bolt you used appears to be a Socket Head Cap... usually hex. They are common in tool and die making. The hole that relieve the head is called a counterbore (similar to countersink) and you can buy a counterbore bit designed for each size socket head cap bolt. You can also get countersink rather than counterbore for thinner stock.
Nice build as always Mike. Re your hose issue, I solved the same challenge by wrapping wire around the hose and twisting a small loop into it and then hanging a simple hook that hangs from the ceiling so I can hook up the hose out of the way whenever I want. Maybe that helps. Cheers.
Im making something similar. I’m also using a static, main operated lift table originally used for welding, car repairs and the like. I was able to buy a used one for £220 delivered to me. I’ve already made a torsion box table with HD castors and have a top planned much like yours. I use mine as an infeed or outfeed table for all of my machines - none of which are same height. I use it as an auxiliary work table to my main bench. The biggest advantage to me personally is to be able to wheel it to the timber racks and take what might be a large slab onto the lift table and then wheel it to the table saw or band saw. All without straining my increasingly problematic skeleton. The downside is the plugging and unplugging of the mains cord for lifting and lowering. However, my shop is about 8m square with perimeter power sockets plus 4 hanging down in the centre of the shop - so I’m never far away from a handy socket. When you look at my total cost (£350?) against a RUWI or Felder option, I’m very happy.
The fact that your Apprentice , is able to keep himself working is marvelous. Cheers
Thank you, agreed.
Thank you for your comments about our lift tables. We our proud to build quality lift products that remain in use for many years.
Wow, I didn't expect Autoquip to see this video. Your lift has been a big part of my shop for about 10 years now. This has been one of the few pieces of equipment that hasn't needed any attention. Really well made piece of gear. Thank you for the comment.
Send him a new one so he can have two.
Agreed. The lift got quite a plug on this vid, and I will be getting one myself, thanks to this video. He deserves another one!
or better yet, send me one! :-P
I want one too but I need a bigger shop first.
Even a used scissor lift is way out of my budget, and way beyond any necessity for the stuff I make. Now I really want one. Great video!
Thank you. Its a nice tool to have if you can swing it.
Watched this a few times over a few months.. this video is better every time i watch it. Thank you for taking the time to make it and sharing your thoughts
Thank you very much. Happy to hear you have found it useful.
Thank you. Great build, excellent video. That scissor lift find was the type of lucky treasure hunt that ends up major in the history of most of our shops.
Thank you Michael. The lift is a major find for me too. Its the center piece of my shop.
"I paid for (insert product) with my own money and didn't mention a CZcams channel" - Liked & subscribed
Thanks Tim.
"Hulking Mass" I love it. You make us smile Mike, keep up the good work.
Thank you John, will do.
Yes! Yes! Yes! That was exactly what I was waiting for! I've no excuses now, since I've just received my TS55 yesterday!
Thanks Mike,
Best!
Nice! Time to get out to the shop. You are gonna love the ts55, its a useful tool.
Great build. I like how you explain the reasoning behind the mods you make. I have been looking for an adjustable height assembly bench but had not considered hydraulic scissor lift. Sucks that the hold down clamps wouldn't go through 1" material without modification. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. This lift has been a great addition to the shop.
What a great idea. I'm looking forward to building a smaller version for an outfeed/assembly table for my garage. I like your video style and of course your craftsmanship. Fun in your videos is always good too. It would be fun to see you and Ron Paulk collaborate on something.
Thank you. Yes, this bench would make a perfect outfield table. I would love to work with Ron Paulk, he is sort of the opposite of me. He like to plan things, I just jump in.
That's a great idea. I was thinking of buying a motorcycle lift, and I could make a bench to make an outfeed table for my table saw. This is giving me ideas for making my space as versatile as I need for my various projects.
I was in a car accident 38 years ago that left me in a wheelchair, I am a long time wood working hobbyist (since grade school) and it would make building projects so much more enjoyable to be able to raise and lower the height of the project. I have been looking for a lifting table for many years and still cant locate one. the closest that I got was an obsolete hospital bed that I thought was strong enough to work on and I was going to purchase it, but the bean counters at the medical building thought they may have liability selling it to me so they changed their minds…oh well, the hunt continues! you did a great job modifying it and when I finally locate one, I will do the same...thanks for the video and continue to make sawdust!
Sorry to hear of you accident. A table like this one could be of use to you for sure.
Have a look for Hymo lift tables
Ya that is sick. Great ideas. Love the 90deg. holes on the top. perfect!
Thank you John.
Mike, my first bench was on a scissors table lift with a Norm Abram designed torsion box bench (minus the legs on it) that I built. Wished I had never sold it but the guy who bought it wouldn’t take no for an answer and kept offering me a higher price until I said yes.
You did a good job on yours.
Ron
Thank you Ron. Norms bench was cool for sure.
Love it.
Thank you Mr King.
love the shots around your place, flying out there in 3 months, can't wait.
Thank you. Its a very beautiful place.
While working in a door factory we had an o-ring fail on a lift table very similar to yours. The table bottomed out in an instant. That gave me a new respect for hydraulics. Your table build is enviable and the vacuum in the table is awesome!
I could imagine that would be exciting to have happen. Thank you.
Skoocum is only used in the lower british columbia area. I never heard it before watching AvE. Im in Ontario
I figured as much, but the AvE guy sure is funny.
@@MikeFarrington AvE is an amazingly funny guy, but just as brilliant & gifted in his engineering knowledge (or so I'm told, as I'm not a P.Eng. by any stretch!). You have a GREAT channel, Mike, & I'm happily a new sub. Skookum as frig! Cheers from Manitoba, Canada.
@@rossmclean7623 AvE is very funny and smart, that is for sure. Thank you.
Is it fair dinkum?
Mike, excellent video. Maybe a boom arm of some sort to hold the hose up in the air off the table. Being in this business since the late 70s, I loathe MDF, if I have no choice and to use for a build, I suit up like a astronaut when cutting, the dust is murder on my lungs. I cough for you when I watch you work with the stuff...
Thank you, good idea for sure. Right now I am thinking of attaching something to the top of a threaded bench dog, like a hook.
It's just so funny to watch your old videos again and see you shooting dust all over the place with your Lamello...like a pilgrim!! 😁
Thank you.
Thanks, Mike. Great build. I see you've already incorporated a craft-paper roll at one end! Must-have! I found a supplied who does meter-wide rolls of waxed paper... awesome for glue-ups!
Thank you. The paper roll is a nice addition for sure, keeps the top nicer longer. I like the wax paper idea. Good one.
Hi Mike, I did not know about this video until someone sent me a link - brilliant and well done for choosing the Parf Guide System. I have now subscribed to your channel. Cheers. Peter
Peter, great to have you onboard and thank you very much for commenting. I purchased your system after watching your videos and a few others. My initial thought was that this would probably work OK. After using it, I am really impressed with the accuracy. Thank you for a neat tool. I have plans to make a couple more work tops, and I have plenty of jigs I plan to make taking advantage of the 90 degree pattern.
Hi Mike, You might like to look at my Isometric top, again created with the Parf Guide System. It may not suit your current needs but it does give you near perfect 30 degree and 60 degree cuts. czcams.com/video/SAKhSPBozms/video.html Cheers. Peter
I have seen this video, thank you for suggesting it. I have the idea stored away in the back of my mind should the need arise. Thank you again for a product that does what it says its going to do. Rare these days.
I have taken the liberty of creating a new thread on the Festool Owners Group forum featuring your excellent video. They all know me quite well but I could find no mention of your name and I think that it is time for them to take notice - particularly as the FOG is a US dominated forum ! here is the link: festoolownersgroup.com/member-projects/mike-farrington/msg555814/?topicseen#msg555814 I also think it is time for you to be introduced to the Parf Dogs from Lee Valley and the Parf Super Dogs from Axminster. Also, stay tuned as there are plenty of my jig and work holding items in development at Axminster. Peter
Thank you Peter, that is very kind. Word of mouth is always welcome. I am certainly interested in the Parf dogs. I have used dog holes for many years with the Festool clamps and that was very helpful. After a few days with the new Parf System holes, my mind is racing with ideas on how to better utilize the 90 degree pattern. I really think this system is something of an unrecognized genius, accept for those who have used it first hand. I am very curious to see what you guys come up with. Keep at it!
Great build and love the inclusion of the shop vac.. I might try and pick up an old Dyson motor on ebay and see how that works in my own torsion box! Did you consider hanging a dust bag under the collection box, might work a bit like a cyclone??
Thank you Stuart. I think any old shop vac motor could be adapted. I didn't think of hanging a bag, thats a good idea. If this doesn't work, I was going to hook up vac bags in the dust collection area. I made sure to size that area so I could use commonly found bags.
Nice tabletop system, here i was thinking i was going to have to sell my heavy duty moto lift to make room for a woodworking table, now i know how to convert it and have both! Thanks for the great content!
I like it, a two purpose work table.
Love the apprentice addition to to videos. That’s how you keep the passion alive.
I appreciate that!
Pretty cool. I like that scissor lift, but alas my days of a fixed built shop are behind me and I think getting it in and out of the trailer on jobs would be a bit of challenge😎🤙
Ron! Holy cow! This is great. Thank you for commenting on my video. I have plans to make a bench in your style for my install setup at some point.
a couple of scissor jacks and a drill could make a mini lift table a la Paulk ;)
Mike, you won't regret it. I bought all of Ron's plans and built just the bench. I figured it's the least I could do for the amount of effort he put into it. I use it on a DAILY basis. If not as a full 4 by 8, I use it the most as a 2 by 8 mini bench.
Thank you Aaron, good advice.
Aaron Berk I’m a big fan of Ron Paul’s. I purchase all the plans as well and have used his sketchup contributions to fit out my single car garage work shop. And love my RPWB. His hours and hours of how to vids are my best investment.
Great build and a nice bench, the lift you have is very strong. It looks as if our NHS in England has ripped off the idea because most of the modern day beds have a very similar system. I would like to build one of those the only trouble I would have is that my entire work shop is only 6 ft by 8 ft and I have to keep all my tools in there as well.
Thank you. No reason you couldn't make a smaller version.
+John Fithian-Franks
Make a mini one that you could hang on a wall.
A really smart design, Mike. I now live in a condo where my minimal woodwork is confined to a mitrebox on the kitchen counter with my 40+ year-old wall cabinet of hand tools in my laundry room plus an electric drill and jig saw. I have a hardware store plastic set of drawers for sandpaper, drill bits etc and wall-mounted labeled mini drawers for screws etc. I enjoy seeing your more recent inventions such as biscuits/dominoes, and hearing your lucid and amusing explanations to us armchair wood-wording amateurs. In closing, I always enjoy your outside shots of the Rockies to the west which reminds me of driving along I 40 & I 70 to ski in Winter Park.
Thank you very much.
Love your skies and laughed out loud at your shop assistant whacking the trash can with the mailing tube. What fun! There's a kid on CZcams who used Festool 32mm shelf pin hole track to lay out a 96mm grid (every third hole makes 96mm) like Peter Parfitt's system. For tightwads like myself that would reduce the out-of-pocket to paying for the Parf System's long-center-spur 20mm bit, some pins, and Parfitt's slick little spring clips to float guide track up and down on his tall pins set at any spacing. Thanks for posting and keep up the good work.
Thank you. I think your plan will work good, and maybe save a few bucks as well.
The sleep number bench... I have the same issue with the hose and I will probably drop mine from the ceiling. Not really a good option for you though. Whats frustrating is using the track so and the ridges of the hose catch the edge of something. You think your saw is cutting through something heavy, but its just stuck from the hose.
Thank you, I like that, the sleep number bench. I considered dropping from the ceiling, but that wouldn't solve the plug issue. With this setup the hose and the plug go to the same spot. This is just one in a million ways to solve the issue. The hose catching is a problem as well....
There's a hose sleeve product out there to solve the catching issue. amzn.to/2Lp2VOv
Dave Stanton has a good vid where he slides PET Braided Sleeving over a Festool hose to stop all the ridges catching on corners. I tried it. Easy. Cheap. Fast. Works!
See czcams.com/video/s6zYwFmBOYg/video.html
3rd!
Nice!
Dang! That table is SUPER versatile! Very Cool!!!!!!!
Thank you, its been a great addition to the shop.
I was always impressed with that bench! Nice work Mike!!
Thank you Donny. The Podcast has been great recently.
Check out Dave Stanton for even more ideas for your bench.
Thank you. Will do.
Check Dave out on proper PPE use also.
I scrolled down the comment section to see AvE fans but didn't find any.
That scissor lift is scookam as frig vaa..........
Look a little further, there have been a couple. One guy told me to keep my ..... in a vise. AvE could be the funniest guy ever, and I would really like to think he would describe this lift as skookum as frig.
Nice work with the 'Dirty Dick Beaters'. I can't wait to hear Mathias Wandel say something 'AvE' , wah!
Ha! I wonder if Mathis watches AvE.
Mike, you are just on another level! I really appreciate you sharing your great craftsmanship and ideas.
Thank you very much.
Hey Mike, LOVE THIS BENCH. After watching this video the first time, I went out and found a similar lift table at an auction. Question for ya- how deep is your grid work? I like the idea of some tool storage vs. wasted space
I go back and watch your videos every year looking for inspiration and tips. I built one of these for myself a while back and I LOVE IT!
That is awesome!
Getting your hoes to lie straight is, Donald says, dang difficult and potentially expensive.....
Take a perfectly good tall dog and drill through it to then put Velcro/wire/bandage etc through it ......
Revised thoughts pt 2: drill a 45mm dia hole (or whatever size your vac hose dia is plus some wiggle room) through a 60mmx40x80 piece of solid wood. Then turn down the body of the wood to 19.6mm x 60mm into a Festool dog that ultimately has a hole through the top of the dog. Place dog in hole and feed hose through and use to position vac to manufacture 5 more. Place three in bag and post to me. Use yours to continue dust management and consequently make more entertaining vejayos....
Greetings again from SW Australia.
I like the idea, though, I probably won't make extra... Thank you very much, good idea.
seems ironic that you have to vacuum the vacuum
Ha! Very true, but I couldn't think of a better solution.
@@MikeFarrington You couldn't just hook up your dedicated vacuum to your tools??
@@acerjuglans383 I could have, but I get really tired of hoses and wires everywhere. This solution was to keep everything up off the ground.
At a previous job, I had a hydraulic lift table that I could use. At first I thought "I'll never use this" but after the first time or two it became MY workbench. Funny you mentioned the motorcycle lift. I did exactly that for my home shop about a year ago. Got one from Harbor Freight and mounted my torsion box table top to it. It is immensely helpful to get he project at just the right height.
Thank you. Its certainly a nice tool to have in the shop.
Great idea! it's gonna be my next project. Thanks for sharing👍
Thank you. Best of luck with your build.
You really should be wearing a dust mask each time you use a power tool to shape or cut the MDF!!! That precious little one needs you to healthy so you can watch her experience life. MDF dust - BAD STUFF! Great video otherwise!
Yes, thank you. That was part of this build, to help with that very issue.
Your right buddy pulmonary fibrosis is no fun trust me.
I agree that MDF stuff is nasty.
Thanks for the head's up, y'all. I'll be sure to mask up when we're cutting mdf at work :-)
Also mdf for a large majority of manufacturers contains formaldehyde. Your little cabinet helper doesn’t need to be around that. ( Industrial cabinet maker 20 years.)
Thanks for sharing. I used a sheet of peg beard Plugged some holes and opened up the ones I wanted, harder than MDF. Screwed down to a sheet of 3/4 stuck easily replaced. Cheers, Billy in Canada
Thank you. Thats a good idea. Well done.
I like the woodworking bench, That style of work bench would definitely benefit me. Thanks for the detail of the video.
Thank you for watching.
Excellent video. Nice blend of warmth, humor and instructional info. Definitely I'll use some of your ideas along with Ron's in building my portable bench along with the use of the 90 degree dogs I've not seen done before.
I'm not sure how it could be accomplished, but I use a bag in my shop vac. In my old vac I rigged a pillowcase around an abs pipe with a larger adaptor on the end to hold it in place. I go 10 times longer before the vac begins to clog up. Of course I often am sucking up sheetrock dust.
Again thanks for your wonderfully done share!
Thank you very much. I have considered using a bag. So far the only thing I have changed with this setup is I upgraded to a HEPA filter. Its been working great otherwise.
Great video, Mike! I have linear-actuated lifting on one of my workbenches, but really want to combine that feature into my primary work bench. Also, that Parf bench dog guide system looks amazing! I just wish there was a "rental" of something like that, as it doesn't seem like a jig/tool one would use often, unless you were setting up several bench tops, etc, with dog holes. Thanks for showing us such a cool work bench and configuration!
Thank you Seth. I agree, renting the parf guide would be great. Its certainly not cheap, but if you think about using it a bunch of times over many years it will pay for itself eventually.
Super cool bench
Super cool that Ron Paulk commented!
Super cool vac setup
And super cool shop apprentice!
Always look forward to you videos mike!
Thank you. Yes, very nice to have Ron take a moment to comment. I'll have another video out soon.
Dealing with a garage that started life as a carport in my home shop. Realizing now a few projects in that not having a flat reference point from the floor is causing havoc with making things plum... Ugh.. Somethings you just don't learn until you do. Love your vids Mike!
Thank you Denis, a nice flat surface is a wonderful thing.
yer the scissor lift for the table is the perfect idea & The Parf Guide System would have endless uses, very nice job.
Thank you, its been a great bench so far.
I like the modification you personally made to eliminate the chances of sawdust caking up in your hair whilst working with all of that MDF. Thanks for all of the great tips this video has provided me. 😁👍
Ha! Good point, thank you.
Thanks for all the great info in this Vid Mike. Just built my own version over the weekend. Can't wait to put it to use.
Thank you. Thats great to hear, I hope you like it.
I agree with the suggestion that you wear a dust mask! You really want to be around when your apprentice is in the trade.
Love your channel and great explanation of your builds.
Thank you.
Definitely going on the list of new favourite channels. Awesome work.
Thank you David. Great to have you onboard.
Excellent videos Mike!
Thanks for talking about the scissor lift; I've been curious about it since I started watching your videos.
Thank you. Happy to hear you enjoyed the bit about the lift.
@@MikeFarrington Same hear regarding the lift. I looked around on the net and you are right. They aren't cheap. I REALLY like your videos Mike.
@@befmx31 Thank you very much. Not cheap, but the tool I use the most.
I really like the integrated shop vac idea. Nice job mike!
Thank you very much Ben.
Great stuff Mike! This will be a good inspiration for my up coming build!
Thank you, thats great to hear. Let me know how it turns out.
Hi Mike, love your channel and the way off meticulous finishing your work, state off the art, and you are blessed with a very dedicated shop apprentice keeping it all clean, lucky man some have it all....
Thank you. I am a very lucky person indeed, but I have a normal life as well, with many of the same challenges as everyone else.
Love the table and certainly that awesome lift!
Thank you. Its been a luxury to have for sure.
Excellent project Mike. Glad the Shop Apprentice appreciated the light weight of the shipping tube.
Thank you very much.
Gave me an idea for a knock down outfeed table/work bench. My original work bench was more of a jack of all bench, for wood, metal and auto needs so a big torsion box like that would definatly help! Great video as always.
Thank you.
I like that. I need to make a scaled down version of this .
Thank you. Yes, this bench could be made to any dimensions.
Another top notch video Mike. I foresee many spectacular projects being built on that bench.
Thank you very much Josh. I hope you are right.
Great bench and enjoy watching your little helper. Ours are grown now but still like seeing a son with his dad! Very good video also!
They grow up fast. Thank you.
Hey Mike! This is sweet! The way I’ve seen the hose issue addressed is a little u-shaped notch on the edge to grab that hose and keep it in place. The festool hoses with the sleeve are a little easier to manage maybe I’m too cheap to actually buy one and confirm. Lol.
Thank you. I like the u shaped idea. I'll give that some thought.
Wow, truly a great video, thank you sir!
Thank you very much.
Love the roll of kraft paper on the end of the bench. a nice touch.
Thank you.
Love it!. (Every time I think I've got how I'm going to build my bench figured out, someone comes along with a video that sends me back to the drawing board. )
Ha! Sorry to confuse the issue, but if you get a couple neat ideas, it was worth it.
No worries! It's a good sort of confusion.
Bancada de trabalho maravilhosa. Parabéns!!!
Thank you.
Love your videos. Great content and tips, perfect amounts of sarcasm and movie quotes. Keep it up!
Thank you Robert. I always wondering if people will get my sense of humor, good to hear that you do!
The efficiency, of vacuuming, the same dust twice, seems a bit questionable, but i really love everything
about this bench, except the vacuum, lol, I'm in process of basically duplicating it, many thanks for
the ideas, and the video!
I will be attaching a boom to closest wall by my bench, to manage air line, vacuum hose, lighting, and electrical.
Also hope to come visit you someday, bought me 1.3 acres of a mountain, not to far from you.
There is certainly an efficiency loss to cleaning up the clean up, but it's maybe a couple minuets every other month. So not a big deal. I do think a boom would be better, and I will probably go that route as I build my shop more.
Great video, very informative, and it gave me some ideas to create my own workbench out of the back of my van. Thanks again!
Thank you very much.
I’ve not long built something similar myself and the jigs you made at the end are a great idea I hadn’t thought about. If people don’t want to buy that part hole jig as it’s too expensive, then they could do what I did and find someone on eBay who has a Cnc machine who makes MFT replacement tops and use that as a guide 👍🏻 another great video mate, really enjoy your humour
Thank you. I agree on the cost of this system, and also CNC is a great option. In my case I have plans to build a few more different tops for around the shop and job site, so the cost will be spread over a few projects.
Vacuum Hose management idea.....Picture an IV pole....now adjust the length as needed. Take a properly sized shaft collar and clamp it on the cut end of the IV pole, measure the distance required for your thickness work bench thickness and position the shaft collar that distance from the end of the cut end. Then when insert into a dog hole the shaft collar will rest on the top surface of the bench top. The OD of the shaft collar will provide support for the IV pole concept, well basically a rod or pipe with one or even two bent rod hooks. The length of the pole under the shaft collar, while inserted in a dog hole, will provide lateral support. To think about it, the pole would not support anything without a dog hole. After the IV pole, or "The Pole with the Crazy Hook Things", is installed; using bungee wrapped around the vacuum hose, hook the bungee hooks on the hook on the pole. Or one could kick it up and install a ……. wait that will be coming soon. Great videos Mike, real down to earth and I enjoy all your videos.
This is a good idea. Thank you for posting. I'll give this some more thought.
That’s an awesome bench, sure looks skookum as frig! Also looks just like a metalworking table but made of wood! I’m inspired.
Thank you. Always nice to have a skookum bench. It does share a few similarities to a metalworking bench.
Every time I watch one of your vids it costs me a bunch of money! I ordered the blum jig after the last one and now I want the parf system. Keep the vids coming, I watch a ton of youtube woodworking vids but always learn the most from yours.
Thank you very much Brad. Sorry to cost you, hopefully you can get some more projects done with the new purchases.
I have a similar bench (also used PGS for the holes). I use an overhead hose and it's awesome. Make it long enough to reach the corners with a bit of slack and it never gets in the way or hangs up on the edge of the table. Looks like your ceiling is high, so maybe an arm (movable?) made out of a bit of pipe with a 90 degree bend in it and attach it to that grey wall next to the table (up & over to the bench). Kind of makes the inbuilt vacuum redundant though, but I think you'll be glad you did.
Thank you. This is a good idea. We shall see what I come up with.
Me too! I found a lift very similar to that - but built right here, in southwestern Ontario, Canada. I bought it off of Kijji. lol! and also paid a fraction of what new would have been. and, I absolutely love it. It just shuts up and works! One can work on anything at at any height, either sitting down or standing... With my health, its as the only way I would get anything done... Am extremely grateful I found it.
I too, have considered using a Paulk-style bench top on it. But, I kind of like the idea of using conventional bench dogs, and have red oak stashed away that I plan to laminate and create a solid 3-4" top with the edge grain as the top. That's my plan... some kind of vise on the side and an end vise, as budget allows.
Great video! Glad to know I'm not the only one crazy enough to have a hydraulic workbench in a wood shop! :-)
A lift bench is nice to have for sure. I kicked around the idea of a solid top as well. I ended up going this direction because I am fortunate to have a more conventional bench as well.
Loved the build. Loved the numerous music track, love your dry humour and your superb narration of the task in hand. Oh yeah...and your Pro tip(s). Catching up on some nice builds in a view-a-thon today.
Thank you very much!
great build. for your 'hose management" maybe 2 x 20 mm dowels with a connector to space them between 2 rows of dog holes? like a giant staple - holds hose in place but easily moved- Tyler
Thank you. Great idea.
I've been itching to do the same in my shop. Nice job!
Thank you. Its been a nice addition to the shop.
Hey Mike. Great video. I also purchased the Parf Guide system. My bench top is 1" particle board with a laminate top. It was already built in. I started drilling the hole. When I got tired, I tried my Festool clamps. I am bummed, they won't go through the hole. I can't get to the underside to chamfer the holes. So I am screwed. I'm glad I didn't keep drilling any more holes. Keep up the great work. It is great to see your apprentice in the shop as well.
That is a bummer, is your top already glued up?
Absolutely spiffing work as usual Mike...
Thank you very much.
Mike, nice work man......that shop space is to die for !!
Thank you very much.
Great job, build and humor as usual! Thanks!
Thank you Henry.
I love the idea of having a scissor lift as the base
Thank you. Its been a great addition to the shop.
Nice! What a cutie your apprentice is!
Thank you. He's the light of my life.
Sweet table. scissor lift is awesome. Hose management idea, you probly already thought of it, use pvc pipe, cut into 1inch wide segments and screw small pieces of wood that will fit in the bench dog holes. you can leave them on the hose and just push them all the way to the back end when you put the hose away. when you want to use them, they will slide enywhere along the hose you need. the square edges on the cut pvc segments will help hold the hose a little bit.
This is pretty close to what I was thinking, especially with the threading already on the top of the dog. Such an easy build.
Hey Mike. Great job brother! Just found u about a week ago. Been watchin u since. Love the videos. Ur on ur way!
Thank you very much. I hope you are right.
This video inspired me to hunt for a cheap scissor lift to build a bench. Found one being discarded from a local library. Some begging and 100 bucks later and I'm stoked. Won't be half as skookum as yours, but good enough for my little shop :)
Nice, that sounds like a good deal. Good luck with you build.
Great vid!! Suggestion for dust collection... planter stake from a garden center... probably need to modify the stake button has a hook for holding hose up above work
Thats a good idea. Thank you.
Handy top! I do love that scissor lift.
Thank you. The lift is a nice luxury to have.
Nice build.
Ive been trying for months for my boss to get me a scissor lift. We have 3 of them in our shop but they are all at the beam saw.
I will be making a new torsion box assembly table in the next few weeks. I love them. In my personal shop I have a 3 inch thick outfeed table and 4ftX8ft 4in thick assembly table torsion boxes.
The vacuum in your table is an amazing idea. Please keep us updated on how it works.
In a shop with a beam saw, that is usually the focus. Will do, I will be using this bench in pretty much every video I make going forward.
@@MikeFarrington our beam saw is only used to cut adjustable shelve. We run 2 CNCs 16 to 20 hours a day for nearly everything else. Me and one other guy do all the custom assembly and 4 other guys do the regular production assembly.
I like how you say "chamfer" over there. I'm gonna start saying it like that. I always watch this and now I'm gonna make one this afternoon. Cheers Fazzleburger for another splendid video
Thank you. Good luck with your build.
I do use my motorcycle lift as a workbench with a 24mm ply lid on it. Just bought the Parf Mk2 system to put holes in things.
That sounds pretty cool.
@@MikeFarrington It's a scissor lift type like yours but I have to pump it up by foot although I do believe I could connect an air line? I've also got one of those double height scissor lift trolleys, really useful except it's all in storage at the moment until I finish building my workshop, one day. Have to admit, you yanks drive me nuts with your huge workshops. We're lucky if we've got a 4'x6' shed in the UK. ;) :(
Great job. Love the way you use the dog holes...By the way the bolt you used appears to be a Socket Head Cap... usually hex. They are common in tool and die making. The hole that relieve the head is called a counterbore (similar to countersink) and you can buy a counterbore bit designed for each size socket head cap bolt. You can also get countersink rather than counterbore for thinner stock.
Thank you, great tips!
Nice job, we have similar benches set up in my shop! I will have to check out the parf system.
Thank you. The Parf System works good. I think it can improve any bench.
thats a really sweet bench lift!
Thank you.
Nice build as always Mike. Re your hose issue, I solved the same challenge by wrapping wire around the hose and twisting a small loop into it and then hanging a simple hook that hangs from the ceiling so I can hook up the hose out of the way whenever I want. Maybe that helps. Cheers.
Thank you. This is a good idea. I'll put it into the idea bin.
I like it and I think I have seen the manual pump hydraulic version somewhere before...
Thank you. Yup, there are a few manual tables out there, they work just as good.
Im making something similar. I’m also using a static, main operated lift table originally used for welding, car repairs and the like. I was able to buy a used one for £220 delivered to me. I’ve already made a torsion box table with HD castors and have a top planned much like yours. I use mine as an infeed or outfeed table for all of my machines - none of which are same height. I use it as an auxiliary work table to my main bench. The biggest advantage to me personally is to be able to wheel it to the timber racks and take what might be a large slab onto the lift table and then wheel it to the table saw or band saw. All without straining my increasingly problematic skeleton.
The downside is the plugging and unplugging of the mains cord for lifting and lowering. However, my shop is about 8m square with perimeter power sockets plus 4 hanging down in the centre of the shop - so I’m never far away from a handy socket. When you look at my total cost (£350?) against a RUWI or Felder option, I’m very happy.
Sounds pretty neat. Thank you.
That scissor lift is awesome
Thank you.