I level shop floor
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the only workspace I have to put my workbench is a shed with an incredibly unlevel floor (12×10 concrete slab with large cracks due to settling) and my bench rocks whenever I use it and the floor is so uneven that shims slip out. We’re talking one of the legs can sit 3 inches off the ground while the other three touch. My bench sits flat when on a level surface thanks to Paul’s tutelage. Any tips from administrators or site community on how you would semi permanently fix this issue for getting a level footing for my bench (I am a tenant not an owner)
Shop around for “leg levelers” on Amazon. You may be able to come up with one of those that would work or at least get you close enough that you could throw a piece of 2×6 on the floor and then use the leveler. With a floor that’s that uneven, all you have to do is move the bench slightly and it’s going to rock again. The levelers are very quick to readjust when needed.
Harry
3″ is a lot.
Is it an option for you to build a plank flooring? Of course you’ll lose height of your shop.
If you don’t have to move your workbench around, then “built to fit” leg extensions could be worth a try.I’m in a similar situation (tenant and uneven floor in the shop – fortunately around 1/2″). Probably cork tiles not only solve that problem, but also uncouple the workbench from the house, so that the noise pollution for the other tenants will be reduced.
E.
Veni, vidi, serravi.
Münster, Germany
I don’t know what your floor looks like, but you could get a scrap of wood approximately the width of your leg and about a foot long. Clamp it to the leg so that it extends the leg to reach the floor. You can decide whether to scribe the extension to the floor or not. When you are happy that the bench doesn’t rock and is level enough, run some screws in and remove the clamp. This is probably the cheapest, fastest fix, and there’s a good chance it will be sturdy enough. Try to make the legs near the vice be dead on the floor and make the extension be on one of the off-side legs.
While it’s true that a three legged stool never wobbles, that doesn’t mean it will be level to the floor. So, you may not end up with a level bench. That probably doesn’t matter very much.
3″ is a lot.
Yes, but if you read what he wrote, that was with three legs on the ground. If you have levelers for two feet, it’s half that and a bit more manageable.
When I originally built my bench, it was to travel every couple months from job tho job, and levelers were necessary.
I found really heavy duty ones at an office furniture supply intended for office rat maze half walls. They are 3/8 diameter thread and about 4” long. I use them with threaded inserts in the legs and they are quite strong. Once or twice I also had to add furniture leg cups.
Similar levelers can be bought a air conditioning and heating supply houses made for leveling machinery. They are even sturdier (1/2”),
There are several varieties of them Larry. Some come with a T-nut, some are external to the leg (just put them on the inside) or you can put threaded inserts in the leg like you described. Any of those work and then the bench can be re-positioned and re-leveled anytime you like. I’ve got them on some of my benches.
Harry
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