[TheForge] Kids and Wheelchairs

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

On Thu, 9 Nov 2006, Saint Phlip wrote:

>
> OK, all, I  just got a piece of equipment that will help me set up one
> of my dreams- a station that is height accessible for kids and folks
> in wheelchairs. A couple days ago, a friend gave me the cutest little
> leg vise, I've got a spare small anvil, so all I need now is a stump.
> Problem is, I need to figure what height I want the stump. So, I need
> a favor...
>
my solution to this problem with a wheelchair is as follows:

take a scrap 100 lb propane cylinder and taking all necessary precaution
and safety measures cut the tank at 24 inches tall.
clean up the cut edges. i ground and filed the edge so it is rounded.

now you need to build a wooden plug that fits inside the cylinder.
i made the plug three layers of 2x8 bolted together with staggered
joints and seams.

now fill the bottom of the truncated propane cylinder with dry sand. (
any sand is fine. the inexpensive play sand will do. ) now set the
wooden plug on the sand adjust the height of the wooded plug by removing
or adding sand. now set the anvil on the wooden plug.

the cylinder is easy to maneuver around without concern of catching an
edge or sharp corner. the cylinder is easily moved with a dolley or even
rolled on bottom rim.

for lap and legs protection i use a pair of leather chaps my daughter
picked up at a goodwill store in chicago.

you need to watch the tires. i have not figured out a way to protect the
tires totally. i have found small metal slivers embedded in the tires
which cut up the hands. i have also burned a tire from a hot piece of
metal hitting it. i have toyed with the idea of lacing a leather
covering around the tire but so far have decided against it mainly
do to being labor intensive particularly for the hands and my hands
do not like to cooperate as it is.

poor ascii art::

        ______
        |____| <-anvil
         )__(
     |woodenwood|
     |enwoodedwo|<- wooden plug
     |odenwooden|
     |----------|<- propane cylinder
     |          |
     | sand     |
     |          |
     (__________)


>
<snip>
>
> Thanks,
>
>

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>