Home-made work stands

48builder · August 22, 2007, 09:30:50 PM

I want to make some folding work stands out of electrical conduit. I saw an article years ago showing how. All you do is bend some conduit into a couple "U" shapes, then hook them together so they fold up, using a chain between them to keep from opening too far. Water pipe insulation goes over the top to provide a cushion.

I was talking to a friend tonight, and he has some 1" conduit I can have. Not sure how I'll bend that. I was planning on buying some 3/4", but free is better, and sturdier. I was thinking maybe the $50 bender setup at Harbor Freight would bend it? I see that it comes with 1" dies.

Has anybody ever made anything like this, and can provide some tips or ideas?

Walt

34ford · August 22, 2007, 10:58:25 PM

Walt,

You can use a electricans conduit bender to make the bends. I made a set and borrowed a bender from my electrian friend. You can buy the benders at Home Depot, Menards, and even Harbor Freight. Just bend both of them the same and they offset inside of each other. I used 3/4" for mine and they are really sturdy. Harbor has a 3/4" one don't know about finding a 1" one.

bob

unklian · August 22, 2007, 11:22:11 PM

Home Depot up here rents tools.

tom36 · August 23, 2007, 08:53:02 AM

Have you seen these? http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=portable+work+stand&Submit=Go

Tom...

crdnblu · August 23, 2007, 09:30:03 AM

Quote from: "tom36"Have you seen these?
Tom...

Good suggestion! A friend has a couple & swears by them. It's hard to build anything for less than $20 these days......

MrMopar64 · August 23, 2007, 11:06:56 AM

The $50 bender at HF is for heavy wall pipe/tubing it will kink conduit unless you fill it with sand

Got one
MM64

EMSjunkie · August 23, 2007, 11:33:49 AM

Quote from: "crdnblu"
Quote from: "tom36"Have you seen these?
Tom...

Good suggestion! A friend has a couple & swears by them. It's hard to build anything for less than $20 these days......

I agree.
we have a HF outlet store here, may hafta go shopping

I can always use an extra stand or two.

Vance

48builder · August 23, 2007, 12:01:23 PM

Quote from: "tom36"Have you seen these? http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=portable+work+stand&Submit=Go

Tom...

Hey, thanks! I will check them out. Good price.

Walt

48builder · August 23, 2007, 12:52:57 PM

Quote from: "34ford"Walt,

You can use a electricans conduit bender to make the bends.

I just called my local HF and they don't carry the stand in the link below. My local Home Depot does not rent conduit benders either. I'll look some more for a bender from some friends, but I may just order a couple of the HF stands. I can get a 3/4" bender, but by the time I buy the conduit and all the other parts I am not far away from the HF price and I don't have to do any of the work.

Ed ke6bnl · August 24, 2007, 03:46:49 PM

they are on ebay all the time

48builder · September 05, 2007, 06:49:17 AM

Quote from: "tom36"Have you seen these? http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=portable+work+stand&Submit=Go

Tom...

I got my 3 stands, and they are fantastic! I could not have made a stand like this for $20. Thanks for the tip. It is a real pleasure to work on my doors with them on these stands rather than on the floor. Much easier on the back.