Home made work bench/tool cart

[gelierb]

Wanted a universal work-station/bench with casters so I can move it around the garage. I don’t have lots of space and anything with wheels always seems to work out well. The idea is that I’ll be able to use it for a number things - weld table/work station - steel top/wood top - mount a vise/small brake, etc. etc.

Size is 24" x 48" by 34" tall (before casters) kind of around a larger Snap-on box. A bit on the high side for my old tall (and heavy) chin-chin vise.

Goobered-up the welds, never welded 1/8" tube before. Put .030 wire in the machine and cranked it up so I think they are strong - just not very pretty (more grinding). Hard to judge penetration on that dark square tubing with no experience. The idea is to attach whatever material, removable tops to that. In the photo above, still need to weld caster plates to the bottom and drill/tap. Never mind the photo perspective, top/sides seem square within an 1/8".

That red Rustoleum is not exactly powder coat but hey it's just a work bench after all.

Came up with a simple way to keep the top (wood) from moving around - may still do something with Rivnuts, etc. for mounting a pull handle, steel top, etc.

Disposable maple plywood top and shelf in place - maybe brush on some linseed oil so the dirt and grease don't soak in as much. Good for now, I'll make some accessories as I go along.

 

[CudaChick1968]

Wow, nice! Next time hit me up and I'll coat it for ya.

 

[RivennHewn]

Hey! How come your welds look better than mine?

You ****!

 

[NJHandyGuy]

Very nice

 

[mofo62]

.


waoo great idea,congratulations!!!


V!

 

[Doxhog]

Great job!

 

[KenS]

Is that 1 1/2-inch tubing?

 

[eborcim]

Sweet looking bench cart.

 

[gelierb]

Is that 1 1/2-inch tubing?

It's a tank - 2x2 1/8 wall steel tube. Just light enough that I could still flip it around. With a steel top and upgraded casters it would probably hold some real weight

 

[kissmeimgerman]

Great work!

 

[Jure]

sick!!

 

[gelierb]

Wow, nice! Next time hit me up and I'll coat it for ya.

Thanks for the offer - I'll drag it on over

 

[pipsters]

I've been looking at making something similar, out of curiosity what is the cost of the material involved? I wanted to make a workbench and maybe even a longer stationary one in my garage in place of cabinets.

 

[diesel research]

Gonna mount any drawers or other "accessories" to it?

 

[gelierb]

I've been looking at making something similar, out of curiosity what is the cost of the material involved? I wanted to make a workbench and maybe even a longer stationary one in my garage in place of cabinets.

This project came about because with limited space I felt the need for something “universal” I could move around. Always wanted a heavy-duty weld table that could be used for other things - but I don’t do a lot of bench welding (most of the time I’m under the Cruiser). I was looking at heavy-duty work carts in the Snap-on catalog for inspiration - expensive and not really what I was after anyway.

Now I’d like to have another just like this one without the casters, a stationary bench for vise/grinder. That offset area in the top is there (in theory) for the weight of a big vise, etc.

I’ve got a local steel supply 5 minutes away, which has been around for a long time and seems to sell some decent stuff. Not cheap (SF Bay Area) but it’s great to just run over and grab a sheet of cold-roll or whatever. Bought the casters there too.

The tube was right at $200 (including tax) cut to my specs. Some smaller stuff, four 1/4 inch thick support plates for the caster mounts and the little 1/8 thick square tabs for the top.

The casters (all swivel) are lower-end Payson medium duty with roller bearings, I think still made in US. The guy told me the bolt pattern is the same as higher-end so they’re easily upgraded when/if I decide they need to be better. They were $24 each - one can of course pay a lot more for casters, but not if you’re married to my wife.

 

[balane]

Very nice. I really like it and it looks great.

Have you considered some end-caps to fill the open square holes?

 

[gelierb]

Gonna mount any drawers or other "accessories" to it?

I've already attached a highly adjustable pull handle.
It will have a "real" handle at some point.
Made the inside above the shelf tall enough to fit other tool boxes...
Other tops (like the steel) will be larger with overhanging lip/clamping area.

 

[Altec]

Inspiring! Thank you!

Great job on the cart! It makes me want to build one.

 

[gelierb]

Very nice. I really like it and it looks great.

Have you considered some end-caps to fill the open square holes?

I thought about those, but I really like it simple and crude - being able to throw a screwdriver or whatever in the tubes.

 

[dittle fart around]

Like the work. As far as I'm concerned any weld that holds is a good weld. Check out my bench "What's your workbench look like?"

 

[nnoble83]

Is that tube the same size as a trailer hitch. You could mount a vise or grinder on a receiver and pin it in the end of the holes

 

[gelierb]

Is that tube the same size as a trailer hitch. You could mount a vise or grinder on a receiver and pin it in the end of the holes

Interesting, thanks for the feedback nnoble83 - I am playing around with different ideas for a "quick-change" system. Might be just a group of steel or aluminum plates for different items that mount stuff to the table with the same bolt pattern, etc.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I thought about those, but I really like it simple and crude - being able to throw a screwdriver or whatever in the tubes.

When welding I usually throw a few welding rods in the open tubes of my welding table so I can get them quickly. I would leave them open.

Chris