Mazda Rotary Club

General => Rotary and General Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 03:57:29 PM

Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 03:57:29 PM
Okay I have no idea what they\'re actually called, sue me.

I\'m looking to custom make / fab myself one of those slidey whatsists you lay on for working under the car and slide yourself under and back out from under the car without shuffling about like a retard on the floor for a minute or so and covering your back in crap.

Main question I\'m asking is what the wheels used on them are? I knot they\'re basically castors like office chairs but very VERY low profile and able to take a fair bit of strain. Seeing as I have no idea what the things n called, I have no idea how to even start looking for bits to make one lol :Giggle

Advice would be lovely please! :D
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Brett on March 21, 2011, 03:59:34 PM
I\'d suggest looking at using slightly bigger wheels, (think tesco trolley sized) and having them mounted with the swivel above the tray line... that way they will roll easily over small stones etc... most crawlers have pointless wheels that are only any good on properly prepared workshop floor....
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 04:09:57 PM
Quote from: Brett;750545I\'d suggest looking at using slightly bigger wheels, (think tesco trolley sized) and having them mounted with the swivel above the tray line... that way they will roll easily over small stones etc... most crawlers have pointless wheels that are only any good on properly prepared workshop floor....

Good plan, will resort to something like that if need be but axle stands only go so high so I\'m trying to keep this as low a profile as I possibly can, just where I can\'t get about so easily anymore I was thinking of making a full person-sized (it\'s called a Crawler?) slidey thing.

Mainly rather than the torso-sized ones most people use, and pull / push themselves about with their feet, I ideally need one long enough to keep my legs off the floor so I don\'t need to move them around, since too much movement gets really painful.

I was also thinking of incorporating two pairs of straps into the bottom half - pair for ankles and a pair for around thighs, mainly because although I can\'t get around well, my legs still move (although very painfully) okay, so I don\'t want to try and lever something and without thinking jerk a leg up and smash my knee on the underside of the car, so need to really keep my legs pinned flat, mainly to stop me doing myself damage lol.

Just thought it would be a good idea and mean I can do more of my car myself without so much assistance.
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: RobMatthews on March 21, 2011, 04:14:44 PM
your right they are not called \'sue me\'s\' creeper seats/crawlers is what they are called :-)

they are not a lot ebay is your friend

even the more expensive ones are difficult, on crap surfaces, trouble is with bigger wheels means your higher, meaning you got to get the car higher, which if not done right gets unsafe.
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 04:24:36 PM
Yeah that\'s what I\'m trying to avoid. I know mine will likely have to be twice as long as the reguler one to keep my legs off the floor so will need wheels in all four corners and supporting wheels on the pressure points like along my back down the center. Trying to get it as low profile to the floor as I can and still slideable on the average driveway.

As for ebay being my friend, I highly doubt what I\'m looking for will be on ebay, read paragraph 2 & 3 of my last post. ;P

If you can find that then you\'re a better hunter than I!
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Prof on March 21, 2011, 04:42:48 PM
It\'s a good job Tesco\'s didn\'t build their superstores next to WWII prisons - imagine the inconvenience of all those useless trolleys with wheels missing...
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: RobMatthews on March 21, 2011, 04:46:11 PM
wheels

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-RUBBER-CASTORS-CASTERS-WHEELS-50-mm-/280639123322?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Supply_Material_Handling_ET&hash=item4157652f7a

some mdf to make a frame whatever size you want,

and foam,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Upholstery-foam-cut-any-size-shape-/170553013926?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Cushions_Throws_LE&var=&hash=item6d6ec11f2c

vinyl covering
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Chestnut-Vinyl-Leatherette-Fabric-PVC-Material-/260747704971?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cb5c63a8b

or find some old office/school chairs with padded cushions-the square shapped metal framed chairs that have a ply back and fabric seat/back part are perfect for removing to use for free knee rests etc
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: RobMatthews on March 21, 2011, 04:49:16 PM
do you mid me asking whats up with your legs?
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 04:51:18 PM
Ahhh, I meant find the actual thing I\'m looking to built as a whole, not the individual parts :rollin

But thank you for the links! Shall see about funds a little later and see if I can\'t build me one for cheaps :)

Dont think this one will be suitably cheap enough to qualify as Grinder Approved :/
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 04:52:19 PM
Quote from: RobMatthews;750569do you mid me asking whats up with your legs?

I\'ve had steadily worsening rheumatic arthritis since age 11. :)
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: RobMatthews on March 21, 2011, 05:12:22 PM
Quote from: Lacey;750572Ahhh, I meant find the actual thing I\'m looking to built as a whole, not the individual parts :rollin

But thank you for the links! Shall see about funds a little later and see if I can\'t build me one for cheaps :)

Dont think this one will be suitably cheap enough to qualify as Grinder Approved :/

i dont think you can buy one,as generally use your legs to move yourself about
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Nik da Greek on March 21, 2011, 05:37:42 PM
I agree that you probably won\'t find a ready-made one of the type you\'re looking for, I don\'t think there is such a thing. Rob\'s advice is probably sound. I made myself one similar to what he describes, used industrial trolley castors from B&Q and old ply from the garage with one of my missus old garden kneeler pad things for padding (shhh, she still doesn\'t know what happened to it). It\'s an easy thing to do, even a DIY spazzwit like me managed it for penny change
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Brett on March 21, 2011, 05:42:52 PM
Quote from: Nik da Greek;750585It\'s an easy thing to do, even a DIY spazzwit like me managed it for penny change

Grinder will be along shortly then! :Thumbsup!
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Nik da Greek on March 21, 2011, 05:47:46 PM
I\'ll sell him the technical drawing for a shiny shilling :Giggle
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 06:59:13 PM
Ah well, will just have to wait til I get paid next and order in some supplies!

Awesome stuff on the links though, thanks!

Any idea where or what to search for if I want just plain bolt-on rails for the down the sides like this?

(http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/large/02/020110036.jpg?)

Dont really care whether it\'s square or round, just made with brackets to bolt straight on. DIY trays could be cool too :)
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: m1tch on March 21, 2011, 07:33:17 PM
yes yes?

(http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/08/JetLuge_450x250.jpg)
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 07:37:05 PM
Pulsejet winning :P
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: RobMatthews on March 21, 2011, 09:28:52 PM
like this? just had a thought if they are cheep enough get two and cut one up to expand the other and get them welded together to strap your legs on?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steel-and-vinyl-Mechanics-Creeper-trolley-headrest-/280645387096?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4157c4c358
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 09:30:19 PM
Good plan! Might end up doing that if I find cheap enough ones :)
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: m1tch on March 21, 2011, 10:05:37 PM
They are usually 2 peice anyhow :)
Title: Sliding Lay-On Tray Thing
Post by: Lacey on March 21, 2011, 10:14:16 PM
Will see when I have more money then :)