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Bike Lift/Table Or On The Floor?
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Re: Do You Build On A Lift/Table Or On The Floor?
At 53 I'm most likely older than the average member on this board. I bought a Handy table lift for Christmas this past year and I am so glad I did. I service all my own stuff and have a few bikes and this has been a perfect solution. The payback has already been achieved during the service of my Ducati it was a breeze with the bike 's valves at eye level and that alone saved me about $700 bucks at the ducati store for a 12000 mile service. Working on the old stuff is so much better as well, I can actually work on the bikes for hours without my back killing me from bending over. But, as I said I'm old and I spent years working without one but now no way I put the bike on it even for an oil change.BrianPettit said:Wondering how many guys use a lift or homemade table and how many build on the floor. I will be stuck on the floor because of space but I'm just wonderin' what you prefer?
Nappy, we know you build on the floor.
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348 Posts
Re: Do You Build On A Lift/Table Or On The Floor?
i like a table. i have used an old steel deskwith casters welded to the legs to build some bikes. it worked out great with the drawers . i welded a couple of bars across the chair opening to store parts for the build.just need a good beam above it to lift the bike off with a comealong when it gets too heavy to lift
other bikes i have used a tool cart for some of the build up when my lift was being used for a bigger job.
some times building on the ground is easyer cause you can see how it looks but will kill your back with all the bending.
i like a table. i have used an old steel deskwith casters welded to the legs to build some bikes. it worked out great with the drawers . i welded a couple of bars across the chair opening to store parts for the build.just need a good beam above it to lift the bike off with a comealong when it gets too heavy to lift
other bikes i have used a tool cart for some of the build up when my lift was being used for a bigger job.
some times building on the ground is easyer cause you can see how it looks but will kill your back with all the bending.
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1,268 Posts
I have the $99 Sears special and it does what I need it to. Friend has table thing and it's really nice, but expensive.
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183 Posts
if i am doing a frame up build i use rolling dollies. i use my bike lift to raise it then roll the dollie in place & bolt the frame down. they have handy trays for small part storage (or catching drips) on the bottom since i am slow with my bike building. the problem as i see it with a table lift is that they are always in the way. on my dollies you just roll the project into the back shop area when not being worked on.
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286 Posts
This is a table that a friend and I constructed in about 45 min. It was quick, easy and very economical to build.
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209 Posts
God, why can't I have a shop like that. You could do half court basketball in there. I hate my little one car garage.baytowngreaser said:
knucklehead; Do you have any pics of the dollies you use or a brand name?
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286 Posts
BrianPettit said:God, why can't I have a shop like that. You could do half court basketball in there. I hate my little one car garage.
Damn, and sometimes I feel I need a bigger shop!!
-Eddie
BrianPettit said:God, why can't I have a shop like that. You could do half court basketball in there. I hate my little one car garage.
QUOTE]
Don't feel bad, eddie lives way out in the sticks so he an have that nice big shop. Just him and the coyotes. Poor bastard.
-john
p.s. I use a little metal table, made out of scap tubing, my welder is uderneath it on a shelf, and I have a little vise on there to cut and grind parts right there. Instead of walking back and forth.
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183 Posts
i was too cheap to buy them so i built 3 myself. got bored & tig'ed them up. should have powder coated them, but the wife brush painted them & they look pretty good. really should have built 4 since i still have 1 frame laying around waiting for a dollie ride, but my quickie pan lower end rebuild is turning into a multi year full on rebuild/ semi-restoration. i took some other pics, but they are still in the camera, ill post them tomorrow for you, you can sorta see the pan on a dollie behind the hemi.BrianPettit said:God, why can't I have a shop like that. You could do half court basketball in there. I hate my little one car garage.
knucklehead; Do you have any pics of the dollies you use or a brand name?
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286 Posts
Don't feel bad, eddie lives way out in the sticks so he an have that nice big shop. Just him and the coyotes. Poor bastard.
-john
Ahh, you get used to it, the coyotes that is!!
Anthem, that's cool. I met and even drank a beer with Keith Weesner @ the 2004 Lone Star Round-Up. Keith is a nice guy and an awesome artist.
-Eddie
-john
Ahh, you get used to it, the coyotes that is!!
Anthem, that's cool. I met and even drank a beer with Keith Weesner @ the 2004 Lone Star Round-Up. Keith is a nice guy and an awesome artist.
-Eddie
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84 Posts
Direct Lift..........About the best tool I have ever purchased, wish I had one 20 yrs ago.
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911 Posts
Harbor freight basic table lift.. was on sale around $300 got got there and it was even cheaper than the flyer price and had a free warrenty..so I spent the rest on more stuff..I use it for big twins and my Triumphs...works great,,foot pump no air,,fine if your not running a shop were you lift 4-5 bikes a day..best thing I have in the shop..don"t know how I got buy without it..buy one.
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I've been working on bikes for years on the floor, now I have hydraulic work bench and I really don't know how or why I managed without one. Easy to get the bike on and off and easy to get the working height right.
Also if I need to remove the front or rear wheels I jack the table up, attach a strap from the roof timbers to the bike (front or rear) and lower the table, it work a treat!
Cheers Dan
Also if I need to remove the front or rear wheels I jack the table up, attach a strap from the roof timbers to the bike (front or rear) and lower the table, it work a treat!
Cheers Dan
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195 Posts
The harbor freight lift is great. has all the basic need covered. Here in omaha it seem like they go on sale about every 6 weeks or so. Just keep eye out and grab one on sale.
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90 Posts
How do you get that down? A friend or two?This is a table that a friend and I constructed in about 45 min. It was quick, easy and very economical to build.
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