Replies

1. 
   wericha | May 11, 2012 02:44pm | #1

   More details......

   How much travel are you looking for?  Are you wanting infinite positioning within the range or set points?

   It will be much easier, better looking, and less expensive to have just part of the pulpit adjust as opposed to the entire thing.

1. 
   Dan 9 | May 11, 2012 03:40pm | #2

   reply

   A range of 6" to 8" would probably be needed. Infinite positioning would be best but maybe 3 set points would work. I agree on having just the part where the book would be is all that would have to move.

1. 
   wericha | May 11, 2012 04:02pm | #3

   Just off the top of my head......

   Build the center "podium" so that it slides vertically in the pulpit base, careful with the tolerances as you don't want it rubbing against the pulpit and damaging the finish.  Dado 4 t-tracks vertically in the pulpit base with t-bolts long enough to clear the podium sides and attach through stem star knobs.  Adjusting the podium will be as simple as reaching inside, loosening the knobs, setting the height, and tightening the knobs.

   Let me know if that doesn't make sense and I'll try to either explain it better or draw it out.

2. 
   RalphBarker | May 12, 2012 04:43pm | #4

   Get crankin' ??

   If you can find one, the geared center column of an otherwise broken, pro-quality photo tripod might be adapted to raising and lowering the top surface. You'e still want the guides mentioned, and a sturdy method for tightening in place, though.

   Or, doing it solely in wood, a sawtooth ratchet mechanism on each corner of the top might do the trick. Add springs and a central release mechanism, and you'd be uptown.

3. 
   zolton | May 13, 2012 04:25pm | #5

   Jacking..

   I've been looking for the holy grail on this subject for a long time. My idea was to put a jack under a workbench in order to move it up and down to access different areas of a project - say the top, and then the bottom, of a chest of drawers. I know some company is doing this now (Jackbench or some such name). But it's more than I want to spend to upgrade.

   So I've been doing it to an extent with a hydraulic lift cart. It works well for small projects, but is a bit unstable when it is at full height, and it lacks mass to keep it in place very well.

   But for your needs, have you considered using a scissors type car jack? They're very sturdy, infinitely adjustable, and inexpensive.

   The downside is that you need a handle to activate the screw. But if the pulpit isn't going to be adjusted during a service, for instance, and you could build in a little nook to store the handle, then it might work out well.

   Zolton

4. 
   swenson | May 22, 2012 01:11am | #6

   inexpensive, simple, quick

   Change the height of the people, forget the pulpit.  A small box or two slid under the pulpit for folks to stand on is simple and quick.  It has the added advantage of not dumping the good book on the floor every time an adjustment is made.  Not too sure if this is thinking outside the box or inside the box.

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 22, 2012 09:37am | #7

   The Box

   "Not too sure if this is thinking outside the box or inside the box."

   I believe that is thinking on top of the box.  ;-)