Moving heavy workbenches and equipment can be a royal pain in the ass. Often times it can be such a pain that we’ll end up leaving a piece of equipment somewhere we really don’t want it because moving it requires getting all your buddies over to help lift it. Like most things in life, moving equipment like this isn’t really a big deal if you have the right tools and expertise. Of course if you don’t know about these tools, or have the experience, then you may go for a very long time before seeing someone move something the right way and realize you’ve been doing it wrong all this time.

Recently I’ve seen some milling equipment, forging equipment, and big workbenches get moved and realized that not everyone does it the right way, so maybe we should share some tips that might help you move whatever you have. There are many options and tools for moving different equipment, but one of the ones that is really handy for moving heavy workbenches and the like are called Lever Dollies or Pry Levers. They are super simple in that they are using leverage and over center physics to make lifting an item and rolling it something someone can do without exerting much force at all when compared to how much the equipment weighs.

But these levers can sometimes cost $150–$250, even from the discount joints, and are usually made for equipment that sits right on the ground. But what if you want to save yourself some money, or have a workbench that is a few inches off the ground? Then watch this video to be inspired on how you can build your own lever dolly to move your own stuff around the shop. When used with some equipment wheels or dollies, you can move just about anything and place it right where you want it.