NOTE: Despite the title, I don't recommend doing this without some help. Because that could be unsafe and kind of irresponsible. But I did it, so I'll share it.
Two unexpected turns of events happened today in regards to my workbench project.
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| Step 1: Get frustrated enough to question my approach and decide it's time to flip the table (bench). Step 2 is a bunch of cleaning that's not pictured. |
I was working on the sliding dovetail endcaps for my workbench and I realized that I actually wanted to flip the bench before I finished, not after. I had been concerned about flushing the bottom, but now that I'm dealing with tweaking test fittings, I realize I would rather do that part in a way that allows to make sure it'll look OK in it's normal position. I'll have to get the bottom surface right with accurate marking and a test fitting or two. So, suddenly I wanted to flip my bench ASAP, which I did not expect. The bench weighs several hundred pounds, so I sent out a request for help from a few friends and started to clean and prepare.
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| Step 3. Scoot the bench back with the legs over the sawhorses and then pull the top of the legs towards you, laying the bench on its side. Position each sawhorse as shown, so they support the top and the leg, but they are not between the legs. Realize that you're tempted to see if you can do more on your own, just as long as you don't somehow get crushed under it. |
A few minutes later I had a clean bench surface (the bottom, and some other stuff out of the way, and I realized I could slide and tilt the bench on the sawhorses, using the legs as levers. Then I was able to scoot the sawhorses to the right positions, one by one, so that I could flip the bench another 90 degrees, with the legs a couple inches away from the ground. That operation was mostly a matter of holding one stretcher and lowering it gently. After that I did a lift (bench) and kick (sawhorse) to let the bench down on the ground. And now I get to see what it really looks like in my shop, and start to use it a bit, even as I'm finishing it. And I also got to cancel the request for help, with apologies.
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| Step 4: Grab the highest stretcher, gently kick the nearest ends of the sawhorses out of the way and lower the stretcher until the bench is vertical. |
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| Step 5: Pick up each and and kick the sawhorse out of the way, then lower that end a few inches to the ground. |
Now, I'm not exactly coming out in favor of lifting heavy things on one's own, because that can be dangerous. However, I was able to do something I thought I couldn't do on my own just by doing one step at a time, thinking each one through carefully, and doing it in an environment free from tripping hazards, etc. So that was encouraging, and a useful reminder of what's possible.
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| Step 6: Play with the vise, bask in the joy of finally having a real workbench in your space, and contemplate sweeping again. |
