Back pain is no joke. In fact, did you know that around 16 million US adults suffer from back pain? If you’re one of those Americans, we know it can be hard to adjust to new limitations back pain may be putting on your life.
Certain movements in woodworking, like bending over, hauling sheet material, and moving projects and other bulky pieces can trigger your back pain. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop or slow down your woodworking. With the right tools, you can keep doing what you love without hurting yourself. Here are five tools from BORA® that can help save your back.
PM-2700 Roller Conveyor
Whether you’re simply trying not to exacerbate minor back issues, or you’re trying to find workarounds to true mobility obstacles, the PM-2700 Roller Conveyor is a great multi-use shop accessory. This tool can function as an outfeed or infeed table and had adjustable legs so you can make sure it matches the height of your table saw. You can also use it as a dolly and wheel large slabs or heavier material across the shop without putting strain on your back.
Some key features of the PM-2700:
- Length expands from 14.75” to 50” (37 cm to 127 cm)
- Height adjusts from 23” to 36” (58 cm to 91 cm)
- 14” wide rollers to help your material to glide with ease
- Flexible shape adjusts to meet your needs
- Weight capacity up to 300 lbs. (136 kg)
- Built-in hooks allow you to attach 2 or more PM-2700 rollers together
- Locking casters roll smoothly to desired location and lock solid for stability
PM-1800 Panel Carrier
Moving full sheets of plywood or other sheet material can be difficult even if you don’t have mobility or pain issues to watch out for. A really useful tool is the PM-1800 Panel Carrier, which allows you to load sheet goods or large slabs onto it for easier transportation. Bring it to the lumber yard or use it in the shop — it’s easy to move and use. Plus, it flips up so you can use it as an infeed table with your table saw, so once you have your material on your Panel Carrier, you don’t have to take it off.
Things to know about the PM-1800:
- Helps you easily move large sheets and panels — even full 4x8 sheets
- Functions as a panel dolly and table saw feed stand
- 350 lb. (159 kg) weight capacity
- 1 5/8” (4 cm) bottom lip on support arm can support 2-3 sheets of plywood at once
- Smooth-gliding wheels ensure easy transport
- Adjusts from 28” to 38” (71 cm to 97 cm) high to accommodate any table saw
- Support arm rotates to 90 degrees and locks in place to feed material directly into your saw
- Support leg adjusts to standing position to turn panel carrier into table saw feed stand
Mobile Bases
Rather than lugging your project to your tools, bringing your tools to your project can help ease any strain on your back. By mounting your machines on mobile bases, you can easily wheel your table saw, planer, or other large machines across the shop with minimal effort and strain.
BORA®’s wide range of mobile base options gives you the freedom to mobilize as many tools or machines as you need to make your shop work for you. From our super heavy-duty PM-3550 to our customizable PM-1100, there are lots of options to help alleviate any potential pain and strain.
CTC6 Centipede Workstand
If you’re quite tall, it can be painful on your back and neck to spend lots of time bent over a short workstation. Our CT6 Centipede Workstand is just like our standard 2x4 model — but it’s six inches taller. Whether you’re a professional who needs a flexible workstand on the job or a DIYer working in the driveway, it’s much easier and much more comfortable to finish your work on a workbench that’s better suited to your height.
Key features of the CT6 Centipede:
- 36” height reduces strain on the lower back for taller users and improves efficiency
- Heavy-duty steel struts are flexible to absorb the impact from heavy objects and machinery, and durable enough to ensure long-lasting, smooth operation
- Works with all Centipede® accessories
- Creates a 2ft x 4ft workstation
- 2500 lb. weight capacity
PM-8000 Portacube Miter Saw Station
If you work out of a small shop, or a shared space like a garage, you know that lots of tools get stored in spots where you can’t use them. For example, maybe you have a workstand where you use your miter saw, but in order to fit the car in the garage, you have to store the miter saw on a shelf and shift the stand out of the way. Moving around your heavy woodworking equipment can put you at risk for back and shoulder injuries — which we definitely don’t want!
The PM-8000 Portacube Miter Saw Station is a great tool for small shops because it’s both a miter saw stand and a workstation, and it allows you to permanently attach your miter saw (or jointer or planer) to it for easy storage. It wheels around the shop or driveway for easy use too, so you don’t have to worry about lifting a heavy saw onto a shelf when it’s time to clean up.
The PM-8000 has a lot of great features, including:
- Compact size of 31” x 29” fits in almost any workshop
- Expands to provide up to 7’ of working surface
- Fits any miter saw up to 26.5” wide
- Adjustable tool tables raise to height of miter saw — from 2 to 4.5"
- 10” wheels easily roll it around workshop
- Fits through standard 32" door opening
BORA® Tool can help you outfit the whole shop! Sign up for our newsletter to learn about more new tools to help you work smarter, not harder, and keep yourself safe!
