You may have noticed that I didn't include the adjective "ultimate" in the name of this product.  While it works wonderfully and I couldn't be more pleased with it, I see this as more as a idea generator for applications for the cylinder concept used here.    There probably won't be that many people who want to build this exact mobile base.  However, this cylinder design can be  adapted to have anywhere up to 15 feet of stroke if you like.  I have made versions of this to lift  close to 200 lbs over 3 feet with a residential water supply and a hose. 

​Think outside of the box and consider what you might be able to do with such a low cost DIY hydraulic cylinder design.  If you come up with some ideas then post them in the Shop Hacks Facebook group with the rest of us.  I can't wait to see what might come out of this.

The concept and implementation are fairly simple.  I  built 6 hydraulic cylinders out of PVC pipe, filled them with water and used a simple 12VDC air pump to pressurize the cylinders that lift the cabinet off the floor.  When the cabinet lifts the casters are pushed against the floor  which makes it mobile.  When the pressure is released the cylinders retract and the cabinet rests firmly on the floor like it would if it didn't have a mobile base.    You can see how it works in the short videos HERE.

You can see more details about how the system works in the following  photos and illustrations...

With a little trial and error you will be able to build this system from the information in this article.  If you are interested in saving some time by having detailed instructions, more illustrations and detailed drawings for each component you can purchase the plans HERE  for the discounted price of $5.95 published only to Shop Hacks Newsletter subscribers until 9/10/19.  The plans include 27 pages of photos and dimensioned drawings as well as a complete hyperlinked parts list to you don't have to search for parts.    Shop Hacks is solely supported through the sales of plans and affiliate links so thank you for considering  a purchase to support more free content like this to help Build YOUR Space!     

Affiliate links take you to the sales pages for products mentioned in this article.  They are listed at the exact same price as you would see if you search on your own but Shop Hacks receives a small commission from anything you purchase within 24 hours of clicking on an affiliate link.  Its a  free and easy way to support more content.

If you are interested in plans for the Ultimate Flip Top Workbench  (pictured below) that inspired this build, just click on the link to find out more.

Tools required:

You won't need any special tools or materials to build the   DIY Mobile Tool Base with DIY Hydraulic Lifts.    Here's a list of tools that you will need...

• Calipers to accurately measure groove depths.  Cheap calipers will be accurate enough for this project.
• Table saw with a flat ground tooth profile to cut flat bottom grooves, or you can use a router in a router table.
• Router
• Jig saw
• Hack saw
• Drill, bits.
• Pencil
• Straight edge
• 1/4” NPT tap and tap handle (I used a wrench instead of a tap handle)
• Ratchet set

The illustration below shows you an overview of the top assembly at a glance.  All of the numbered parts have associated drawings or purchase links in the plans.

The illustration below shows you the detailed components of the Hydraulic cylinders.  Again, the detailed dimensioned drawings and part links are included in the plans.

The hydraulic cylinder is made from Schedule 40 PVC pipe, a wooden or plastic plug epoxied into the bottom of  part number 2, a plastic retaining ring, an O-ring, a steel retainer rod and a couple barbed fittings.

The grooves can be cut using a table saw or router table setup.  I outline a method to safely and accurately cut the grooves in the plans.  You need to drill and tap the NPT holes for the barbed fittings.  I made the mistake of just drilling them and trying to tap them with the fittings themselves and it cost me a lot of wasted time trying to fix leaks.

WARNING:   Do NOT pressurize PVC pipe with air only.  Even though this assembly can probably handle much more pressure than the pump can deliver, there is a chance in just the right set of circumstances that it could crack and shatter causing it to send sharp pieces of plastic flying.    So, this system is meant to be an "air over liquid" system.    All of the  cylinders are filled with oil or water and the air pump  pressurizes a relatively small volume of air.  I used water in mine because my shop never goes below freezing.  If your shop goes below freezing then you should add antifreeze or use oil instead of water.

The following illustrations show how the system works overall.

When you press the momentary switch it turns on a 12VDC air pump that pressurizes the  cylinders and they extend.  When  the cylinders extend they press against the bottom of the cabinet, or against the frame supporting your tool,  which forces the casters down and lifts the tool.  You can move the tool on the casters.  When you want it to be planted firmly you just pull the pressure relief valve which releases the air  and forces the cylinders to retract under the weight of the tool.  I'll show the cylinders extended and retracted to make it clearer.

So, there you have it... a DIY mobile tool base with DIY hydraulic lifts that you can make in your own workshop.  Like I mentioned earlier, the plans include 27 pages of detailed instructions, photos and illustrations if you want to save some time.

I may consider selling hardware kits that include  the items  you might  not have readily available.  If you are interested in seeing a hardware kit made available for this system just let me know in the  comments or in the Shop Hacks Facebook Group.

I"ll include a few links to some of the parts I recommend for this build to get you started...
Set of 4 @ 3" Casters with a 300 lb each load rating.
Sealed lead acid 12V battery
12VDC Air Pump
5A  Momentary Switch

Don't forget that you can modify this design to have as much stroke as you want and use it for other purposes.  I'm looking forward to seeing what some of you will come up with!

                                                                                When you   SUBSCRIBE to the Shop Hacks Newsletter you receive                                                                              a helpful article like this one every Friday at 3:30 PM Eastern.

The workbench may be the most used piece of equipment in most shops.  Workbenches range from a pair of sawhorses with an old door or piece of plywood laid across them to a work of art like the one below that Richard Csepregi‎  posted in the Shop Hacks Facebook group.    (Click on the photo to see more details in his post)

Based on the results of this   Shop Hacks Facebook group poll, it looks like Plywood and MDF make up the bulk of your workbench tops but pine and hardwood   round out the top  choices.   It's not difficult to imagine why.  Plywood and MDF are readily available, cheap and durable and make great general use work surfaces.  Pine and Hardwood can be made into thick,  flat tops with plenty of mass to absorb energy, which is essential for hand work such as chiseling.  We also have mechanics and metalworkers in the Shop Hacks tribe and they often use metal workbenches to handle heavy metal parts and fabrication as well as  oils and greases.  There's no perfect workbench for everyone but this article will help you determine what fits your needs the best.

I've used many types of workbench surfaces over the years.  Plywood, laminate,  MDF, melamine, flooring products and epoxy coatings.  They all have their own unique advantages.

Let's talk about "shop feel" for a minute...
Many of you are aware of the transformation my workshop has been undergoing over the last few years.  I've been focusing a lot of energy on two goals for any shop improvement I make...

1. Improve the organization and work flow efficiency
2. Transform my shop into a destination that I enjoy for the way it "feels" as much as for the way it "works". 

​
This second point is something  that never crossed my mind for over 30 years.  I was very happy with  organized tools and materials, a few florescent lights, dingy gray floors,  block walls, ineffective dust collection and a very basic workbench made of dark stained plywood.    I don't have pictures of the very start of my journey to create a workshop destination but these photos will give you a feel for the transformation that has occurred over the past couple of years.  For me, the transformation involved the following areas...

• Effective dust collection (this opens the opportunity for open tool storage which is  much more efficient than drawers and cabinets)
• Organized tools 
• Organized materials
• Quality lighting
• A nice floor coating
• Workbench restoration

Below are close up pictures to give you a better feel for what you can do with less than $5 per square foot and one day (or less) of labor...

I  have been using this workbench for almost a year now and it still looks great.  I have melamine top workbench that I use for any heavy duty pounding and sawing but I use this bench and the Shop Hacks Ultimate Flip Top Workbench  the most.  Other than scratches my epoxy coated benches still look like new.   You can hit them  with a hammer without damage.    If they ever start to look bad I'll just sand the tops and pour another skim coat of epoxy and it will look brand new again with just an hour of work and less than $20 of epoxy.

If you've never given much thought to improving the "feel" of your shop,  it may be worth a little effort.    Creating a destination has many rewards.  After coating my floors, installing a LOT of LED lighting, getting dust collection and air filtration completely under control and updating the look  of  my workbench, my shop feels like a completely different place.  It really is a destination... a place to crank out new products or just to hang out and soak in the  feel of a great looking space where there are not expectations other than my own.  This is what the Shop Hacks motto, "Build YOUR Space"   is all about.     

​Side note... I cut all of the vinyl graphics you see in these photos.  If you are interested in learning more about vinyl cutters you can find more information on the website HERE.

Common build/restoration options and costs

Without going into too many details let's just look at what some of the most common options and how much they cost.  Price often dictates the materials used for a project.  To help you quickly determine which options are feasible for your workbench just multiply the length x width to determine the number of square feet then multiply that number by the cost per square foot for the materials that are listed below.  I’ve also included the cost to make a typical 2’x8’ bench top using each option.  The table below lists options from least expensive to most expensive.  Links to materials are provided for reference.    Use this as a reference to decide what materials and  coatings are right for you.

Links to sites where prices were derived are provided below...
Workbench Top Material options...
$19.54          2 Layers of 3/4" Particle board
$25.67         2 Layers of 3/4" MDF
$27.00         2 Layers of 3/4" melamine
$36.48         2 Layers of sanded 3/4" sanded plywood
$53.00         2 Layers of 3/4" birch plywood

Workbench Top Finishing/Coating options...
$1.06             1 coat of Polyurethane (covers 500 ft2)
$2.22             Bonding primer
$2.30             ​1 coat of stain (covers 250 ft2)
$6.37             3/16" hardboard
$11.88         1 restoration coat of clear epoxy  (1 oz/ft2)
$26.00         Cheap Formica   (This is likely available much cheaper at specialty stores)
$35.68         1 coat of clear epoxy  (3 oz/ft2)
$43.04         1 coat of epoxy with color tint (3 oz/ft2)
$96.00         High price Hardwood flooring

Plywood, Melamine, MDF and Particle Board Base Materials
Two sheets of ¾” melamine, MDF or particle board will provide a very functional surface that can last a long time.  They are certainly one of the cheapest options available.  Add a coat of paint and/or polyurethane and you have a functional, durable work surface that is inexpensive and that will last a long time for under $2 per square foot.  Because it is very smooth, flat and easy to work with, MDF is an ideal base for an epoxy countertop finish.  You can choose to use melamine with no extra finish.  Melamine provides a fairly durable surface that is easy to clean.  If you wax the melamine then glue will not stick to it.  Plywood is also a good base material that comes in at $2.28 to $3.31 per square foot for a 1.5” thick bench top.

Tile and Hardwood Flooring
Depending on how you use your workbench or countertop, you might also consider covering it in tile or hardwood flooring.  Ceramic and composite tiles can be a durable option that provide latitude in terms of patterns and colors.  Ceramic tiles certainly are not good for operations that involve a lot of impact or cutting but are very suitable for things such as potting or food service.  They are also offered in woodgrain patterns that look very realistic yet offer very high durability.  Tile costs range from about $1 per square foot to over $5.
Hardwood flooring is another option that offers a very durable and unique looking surface for just about any operations.  It is very quick and easy to install.  Hardwood flooring ranges from $1 per square foot to over $6.  If you search around you may even be able to get enough offcuts to cover your workbench for almost no cost.  Check with your local flooring distributors to see what they have available. ​

As mentioned earlier, epoxy resin is great for many applications but it is not ideal for every application.  Below is a list of strengths and weaknesses of epoxy coatings:

​Why I used epoxy resin for 2 of my workbenches:
• I do a lot of assembly and electrical work on this bench.  I have 3 other benches that get most of the cutting, sawing, pounding and gluing so I’m not worried about destroying this one.
• It looks amazing.  You can obtain a gloss or matte finish that looks stunning.  It also allows me to add branding graphics under the final flood clear coat which look very professional.
• Versatile.  You can create many different looks.  Your imagination is the limit.  You can coat just about any surface with epoxy. A wide range of colors, tints and metallic additives are available.
• Self-leveling. It will create a very smooth and flat surface on any level surface even if the surface contains cracks or imperfections.
• Easy to use.  Anyone can use it to get amazing results.
• SCC’s epoxy resins have no VOC’s so you don’t have a strong smell while applying it.
• SCC’s epoxy resins have UV inhibitors included to make them suitable for use outside in indirect sunlight.
• Epoxy resins are very resistant to chemicals and solvents
• Heat resistant.  SCC’s countertop resins are heat resistant up to several hundred degrees.  They will soften with extended exposure to high temperatures but they will not scorch easily.
• Epoxy resins are easily repaired.  Just sand and polish scratches out or lightly sand and apply another flood coat to make the surface looks as good as new.

Situations where you might not want to use epoxy resins:
• Due to the cost and time required to rework an epoxy countertop it may not make sense to use epoxy in areas that see a high level of abuse such as drilling, cutting or very high temperatures such as grinding, milling or welding areas.  In those areas a cheaper material like tempered hardboard that is easily replaced or a very durable material like steel may be more appropriate.

Workbench Ideas

Flip Top Workbenches
Flip top workbenches  allow you to  pack more tools in less space.  Mobile flip top workbenches are the ultimate in space and workflow efficiency.

I frequently use two other workbenches besides the one I showed you earlier.  I got very tired of dragging my mitersaw out of storage every time I needed to make a  simple miter cut or two.  So, I designed the   Shop Hacks Ultimate Flip Top Workbench.   

This is a mobile flip top workbench which allows 3-second access to my mitersaw when I need it but allows me to use it as a workbench the other 99% of the time.  It   includes a concealed    electro-hydraulic lifting mobile base.  I use it as an assembly and sanding table 99% of the time.  It has 8 built-in power outlets powered by a single cord so I always have a power outlet close at hand.  It also has a very innovative integrated dust collection which powers a blast gated port on one side for a tool such as a miter saw, planer or a sander. 

The other side has an integrated 5" x 24"  high air velocity downdraft table that is very effective at capturing sanding dust.  It also makes clean-up a breeze.  Just one swipe of your hand and  all of the dust on the table is sucked into the downdraft port.   ​  A single vacuum connection on the side of the cabinet supplies both sides of the flip table.  I.E. the tool on one side and the downdraft table on the other.

Multi-function   Workbenches
For heavy duty pounding and work holding I use this melamine top workbench attached to my cabinet saw shown in the photos below.  Please excuse the obscene use of color on this system.  It  not the looks that count... it's what's on the inside, right?  :-)    This workbench has the following features...​

• A built in 900 CFM downdraft table with 4-stage air filtration which also serves as a multi-function table  for 3/4" dogs and clamping fixtures and dust collection for the table saw.  The melamine is a great surface to pound, drill and saw on because it is durable, cheap, and easily replaceable. 
• A craft paper roll on one end to  keep   the top clean when I'm painting or gluing. 
• The 4-stage filtered downdraft table also serves as a very effective workshop air cleaner.                         I recently  designed the 2,000 CFM Shop Hacks Ultimate DIY Air Filtration System which is more effective than two Powermatic PM1200 air filtration systems (that cost $1,000) and it can be built in less than a day with a jigsaw, a drill and a router, table saw or circular saw for around $200 total cost.
• 3 hinged dust containment panels fold up to enclose the downdraft table making it much more effective at capturing dust.  They fold down behind the table when not in use. 
• A built in vacuum system  made from a $20 yard sale Dyson vacuum cleaner.  It is used for the over blade dust collection and general cleanup around the saw.

I hope this article gave you some ideas to   Build   YOUR   Space.    If you have some ideas to share feel free to post them in the comments below.    You can also reach me at [email protected] if you have any questions or if you just want to suggest topics for future articles.

Be sure to join us at the Shop Hacks Facebook group where  you will find great workshop improvement ideas posted every day.

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