Poor Man's Swiveling Pedestal Stand

[Robbie Collins]

I have an Erlewine Neck Jig that I have been using on a bench. I decided this setup was troublesome and I needed a dedicated pedestal. I looked at the ShopStand but price moved it many places down my priority list. 

I found myself in the usual quandary of weighting the pluses and minuses of doing it myself. 

I have a welder/plasma cutter but the thought of drilling numerous holes in 1/4" steel made me think prefab. This led me to the Harbor Freight Adjustable Pedestal Stand (item # 95357, *****) which I got for $35 as a display model.

Out of the box, you set the pedestal's height with a 1/2"x 4" rod.  Two 3/8-16 bolts do the vertical hold. 

I replaced the rod with a 5/16" bolt with 8mm ID bearings left over from a fret bender project; otherwise, I would have used 12mm ID bearings and bolt (1" = 25.4mm). I replaced the locking bolts with clamping knobs. 

I leveled the top edge of the outer tube to give the bearings a smooth racetrack and I dabbed a little lithium grease on it.

The finished product works great. It rotates smoothly and the two clamping knobs lock it firmly.  I have no idea if the swivel will be useful.

This project may be below the threshold of "duh," but it is time-sensitive. Harbor Freight is discontinuing the Adjustable Pedestal Stand. They are currently on sale for $50 (usually $80). Their club card gets you another 25% off.

[William F.Eden]

Good job Robbie .I Built mine out of an old floor modle hair drier .It has a spring inside the post and you can set it at any hite works wonderfull.Bill.

[Mike Kolb]

Nice work, Robbie!  Good tip on the Harbor Freight stock, too.... 

[Mark Fogleman]

Great idea using skate bearings!

[George Roberts]

Thanks Robbie,

I'm looking at possible rearrangements of my tiny workshop to see if I can make room for this.  Love ideas that produce the same result, while avoiding the big price tags.

[Andrew]

How are height adjustments made?

[Robbie Collins]

In terms of overall height, there are numerous holes punched in the top tube. Stick the bolt with the bearings through the one that suits your height.

[Robbie Collins]

Update: The stand came with a very large surface so I trimmed it to size. I used the angle vise to scratch an outline in the epoxy paint, used Mapp gas to loosen the paint along the line, scraped it off, cleaned the surface with a die grinder and sandpaper, then used the plasma cutter to cut it to size. I knocked off the slag and cleaned it up with the die grinder and a belt sander. My basement shop is under renovation so it's in the dining room. Unluckily, there's no longer a woman around to complain.

[Paul Verticchio]

Very cool redesign & execution, Robbie. Kudos :)

[Glen H]

Very good!