He Built A Portable Workbench From A Walker
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Longtime FARM SHOW reader Harlan Nonhof built a portable workbench from a repurposed walker. “I wanted to accomplish three basic things with this project: keep my tools handy when using them, off the ground when working outside, and within reach. As I’ve turned 83, the ground seems to be a longer reach than ever.”
The custom workbench worked as well as he’d hoped. “I’ve used it for years just as pictured,” he says. “It’s very light and portable.” The bench gives him a surface to work on and a place to lay tools instead of on the ground. Nonhof also uses it to hang small objects that need to be spray painted. “I’ve found it’s convenient for supporting large pieces of material when I use a chop saw. The legs are adjustable.”
To make the modifications, Nonhof cut off the plastic hand grips on each side of the walker to create a solid surface for bolting the boards. “I used a 1-in. by 2-in. board bolted to the walker hand grip area,” he says. “The top is 1/2-in. by 18-in. by 24-in. plywood. It’s not fastened, but if I need it solid, I can secure it with small bar clamps to the walker frame.”
He estimates that construction took under an hour. “I only needed to purchase the four bolts to fasten the boards to the walker and the plywood top.” He also believes that finding suitable walkers is easier than many people assume. “I expect you can get walkers like this from county health departments or hospice by asking around,” Nonhof says. “Maybe estate sales and auctions, too. Many people who use this style of assistance have gone to walkers with wheels and brakes.”
Nonhof has been impressed with the functionality for the price point. “I made two of these benches for a local hospice auction that they put on the silent bid table, and they each sold for $25, which was just a little more than I had spent on the materials.”
Overall, this portable workbench is proving well worth his effort. “If you ever work away from your normal station and are without a bench, I encourage you to take the time to make one of these,” says Nonhof. “And if you need to do a fairly large job in the yard or field, you may even want more than one.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harlan Nonhof, Philipsburg, Kan. 67661 (nonhofhd@ruraltel.net).
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He Built A Portable Workbench From A Walker FARM HOME Health Longtime FARM SHOW reader Harlan Nonhof built a portable workbench from a repurposed walker “I wanted to accomplish three basic things with this project: keep my tools handy when using them off the ground when working outside and within reach As I’ve turned 83 the ground seems to be a longer reach than ever ” The custom workbench worked as well as he’d hoped “I’ve used it for years just as pictured ” he says “It’s very light and portable ” The bench gives him a surface to work on and a place to lay tools instead of on the ground Nonhof also uses it to hang small objects that need to be spray painted “I’ve found it’s convenient for supporting large pieces of material when I use a chop saw The legs are adjustable ” To make the modifications Nonhof cut off the plastic hand grips on each side of the walker to create a solid surface for bolting the boards “I used a 1-in by 2-in board bolted to the walker hand grip area ” he says “The top is 1/2-in by 18-in by 24-in plywood It’s not fastened but if I need it solid I can secure it with small bar clamps to the walker frame ” He estimates that construction took under an hour “I only needed to purchase the four bolts to fasten the boards to the walker and the plywood top ” He also believes that finding suitable walkers is easier than many people assume “I expect you can get walkers like this from county health departments or hospice by asking around ” Nonhof says “Maybe estate sales and auctions too Many people who use this style of assistance have gone to walkers with wheels and brakes ” Nonhof has been impressed with the functionality for the price point “I made two of these benches for a local hospice auction that they put on the silent bid table and they each sold for $25 which was just a little more than I had spent on the materials ” Overall this portable workbench is proving well worth his effort “If you ever work away from your normal station and are without a bench I encourage you to take the time to make one of these ” says Nonhof “And if you need to do a fairly large job in the yard or field you may even want more than one ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Harlan Nonhof Philipsburg Kan 67661 nonhofhd@ruraltel net
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