Another bench build

[Radartom1]

After years of service it's time for a new bench, I got the top for this beast in Oklahoma moved it to North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and now Alabama.

Started with this

Started with some 2 1/2" x 3/16 square tube

Built some feet

Basic structure, still need a bunch of tube and a table top, but it's coming along

 

[Radartom1]

A little more progress. Wheels on and leveling feet. Profile picture. I feel I should be way further then where I am, but I'm trying not to rush things. I was hoping to have electric run so I could run power, then sheet metal. But I have a few welds still left.

At this point I can have vise, drill press, bench grinder attached to 2" stock and move stuff around or out of the way just about anywhere on the table.

Big issue right no is deciding on if I'm going to slots in the top for clamping, leaning towards no, unless I can be talked into.

 

[LXCam]

wow that's going to be a beast, very cool!. What in the world do you plan on storing in the overhead area, looks like you built it to stick an engine block in ..

 

[Radartom1]

wow that's going to be a beast, very cool!. What in the world do you plan on storing in the overhead area, looks like you built it to stick an engine block in ..

If need be

I have a few shelves around the walls of the garage, for storage, but I'm trying to get stuff off the shelves and in this to keep the grinding dust off some of my stuff. Mostly tools. Still a ton to do weekend at a time.

 

[BikerDad]

Is this design intended for infrequent moves? If not, how do you intend to go about raising/lowering it between the feet and wheels?

 

[Radartom1]

Is this design intended for infrequent moves? If not, how do you intend to go about raising/lowering it between the feet and wheels?

Yes infrequent moves at least I hope. I'm retired Air Force, and a navy brat, so I have spent the better part of my life moving from place to place. Since retirement I've even moved twice, and see at least two more in my future before I can settle down some.

The wheels and the feet are close but don't make any contact in there movement, an adjustable wrench attached to the ears of the feet adjust the feet easy so far, but there is more coming. I picked up some more steel today so hope to make some more progress this weekend.

I am open to suggestions. its a workbench for the garage for every day type stuff, but I do weld as a hobby, I'm into off-roading so that leads to broke stuff that needs fixing. I have a Cnc plasma cuter, and all the rest of the basic tools that go along with welding and off roading.

Also have a couple Harley's and quads. The bench is an all around bench for fixing and making stuff.

 

[crab]

I assume you're going to have a shelf on the bottom, that's handy to have. Looking good, you could use diamond plate aluminum for the cabinet doors, sliding or hinged. I bet you're going to have a light under the cabinet top. This is going to be nice, you need 3/16 or 1/4 inch steel plate for the top but that's as thick as you do need. I've built benches like that except without a top like you're doing, never even thought about it, good idea. I may need to build another bench

 

[Radartom1]

I assume you're going to have a shelf on the bottom, that's handy to have. Looking good, you could use diamond plate aluminum for the cabinet doors, sliding or hinged. I bet you're going to have a light under the cabinet top. This is going to be nice, you need 3/16 or 1/4 inch steel plate for the top but that's as thick as you do need. I've built benches like that except without a top like you're doing, never even thought about it, good idea. I may need to build another bench

A few good assumptions there. I looked in to the diamond plate a bit to pricey for me.

Already picked up a 4' led light fixture.

A little off on the top thickness, I'm thinking 3/8 or better

No shelfs underneath except a cheap tool box I'm planing on picking up this weekend and embedding. Hoping it works out but I'm planning a debris chute going from the back of the bench to a bucket below. We will see if I can pull it off.

 

[crab]

My benches have 1/4 inch tops and you can beat on them with a sledge, can't hurt them. 3/8 top would look cool but it's going to cost a lot more and weight a lot more and I really don't think you will gain anything. I did hang an old craftsman center section box from one of my benches leaving the bottom shelf open. I painted it, looks pretty good, got some draw dividers for hardware and keep my stash of fasteners etc. in there. Now when I need to find a fastener it's quick and handy. Shelf holds the chop saw, wheel chocks etc. The wheels on your bench is a good idea, I also have levelers made from bolts but didn't think about wheels, I have to use a floor jack to move that thing around. If you do use a 3/8 top that bench is going to weigh a bunch . Keep the pictures coming, really nice project !

 

[Duker]

Looking good! I built a bench incorporating an overhead hutch/cabinet and it has been great. I bet once you build one another will be in the works!

 

[Radartom1]

My benches have 1/4 inch tops and you can beat on them with a sledge, can't hurt them. 3/8 top would look cool but it's going to cost a lot more and weight a lot more and I really don't think you will gain anything. I did hang an old craftsman center section box from one of my benches leaving the bottom shelf open. I painted it, looks pretty good, got some draw dividers for hardware and keep my stash of fasteners etc. in there. Now when I need to find a fastener it's quick and handy. Shelf holds the chop saw, wheel chocks etc. The wheels on your bench is a good idea, I also have levelers made from bolts but didn't think about wheels, I have to use a floor jack to move that thing around. If you do use a 3/8 top that bench is going to weigh a bunch . Keep the pictures coming, really nice project !

I had thought about adding mid boxes under the bench, but when I started pricing them it stopped making sense to me, 3 small drawers vs. 4 to 5 big drawers for 100.00, now if I had one just sitting around that would be a different story. I'm also planning on a divider system for the new box for nuts and bolts and misc. hardware. just a matter of time and money.

for the top I'm actually wanting the weight, but trying to keep it under 1400lbs empty.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rad: WELL DONE!!!

I really like the creative feet you made for it. looks like it will hold up for ever and if you ever get a piece of plate to replace the old cool looking wood you'll have a nice welding bench too.

I like the idea of insetting a tool box or parts bin inside the bench instead of a catch all shelf so I'll keep watching and see what you end up with.

i'm guessing it's getting pretty heavy so how does it roll around now??

good luck

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice looking work bench.

Mike.

 

[Radartom1]

Rad: WELL DONE!!!

I really like the creative feet you made for it. looks like it will hold up for ever and if you ever get a piece of plate to replace the old cool looking wood you'll have a nice welding bench too.

I like the idea of insetting a tool box or parts bin inside the bench instead of a catch all shelf so I'll keep watching and see what you end up with.

i'm guessing it's getting pretty heavy so how does it roll around now??

good luck

it's funny you mention the "Old cool Looking wood". when I got that wood top it was one 12' length that I cut in half for the top of that bench. this project has another bench build thread to it but that will be for another thread. that project has begun but having to spend more time on this project first before can I can finish off the other "bench".

so far it still rolls great.

 

[Soslow]

Wow! Impressive!

 

[Richard Cranium]

very nice, I do like the old wooden top you had. But really like the metal tops. 3/8 inch, wow you will be able to really pound on that.

 

[Radartom1]

it's coming together but slow on the progress.

 

[saceone]

great build! looking forward to seeing more progress pics

 

[AB9NZ]

Nice fit up and Heli-Arced- Lovely Job old man.

 

[Radartom1]

Nice fit up and Heli-Arced- Lovely Job old man.

Thanks for the comment, that was one of my better joints on fit and weld, I have a few that look more like a blind three year old did. Even my bad joints and bad fits, everything is super solid. And it's not really heli-arc, since I'm using straight argon, no helium mix. Hope to get some more progress done this next weekend.

I talked to the wife and she was worried this was going to be an expensive project that I was going to toss a bunch of money at and be done with in a week or two. I told her no it's going to be about a month to complete. Now I am a month down, and have at least another month to go.

Oh and the money is going way past what I originally told her, thankfully I'm stretching it out longer so she doesn't notice.

 

[drivesitfar]

RAD: you might want to make something or buy your wife something so when she finds how much you spent she won't care as much. HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE

keep your eyes peeled on Craigslist for some steel plate and maybe stop by a few scrap yards if you ever want to change out the wood top. I have a piece of 3/8 that might fit and i'd let it go for $150 because I already have 2 pieces of 3/4 inch waiting to build a couple tables. I saw a welding table today that had a 2.5 x 5 foot 3/8 inch top for $100 so deals are out there if you are patient and have some time to look and RUN when you find them.

If you have time take more full view pictures and i'm sure others will like them too.

 

[Radartom1]

RAD: you might want to make something or buy your wife something so when she finds how much you spent she won't care as much. HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE

keep your eyes peeled on Craigslist for some steel plate and maybe stop by a few scrap yards if you ever want to change out the wood top. I have a piece of 3/8 that might fit and i'd let it go for $150 because I already have 2 pieces of 3/4 inch waiting to build a couple tables. I saw a welding table today that had a 2.5 x 5 foot 3/8 inch top for $100 so deals are out there if you are patient and have some time to look and RUN when you find them.

If you have time take more full view pictures and i'm sure others will like them too.

the wood top isn't for this project at all and part of the reason for this build is to go to a steel top. I just hadn't got to that point in this build, I think one of the pictures shows it on there but during this build I still need a bench for random stuff and putting this project together. the wood top will be used in another "Bench Build" when this project is complete.

I have already priced out a steel top 4x8 sheet of 3/8 at 220.00, plan is to cut it down to 3x6 and use the scrape for vise, bench grinder and other mounts.

i'll try and get a better full view picture this weekend.

 

[drivesitfar]

RAD: makes perfect sense to me. is the steel company cutting that big piece of plate into smaller pieces or do tell how you are going to move it and cut it?

GOOD PLAN

 

[Radartom1]

RAD: makes perfect sense to me. is the steel company cutting that big piece of plate into smaller pieces or do tell how you are going to move it and cut it?

GOOD PLAN

I'm hoping the steel place can shear the plate, but if they cant my plasma can hack through it pretty easy. now moving that big of a plate will be a trick, i'll have to figure it out when the time comes.

 

[drivesitfar]

RAD: I have a Jet pallet jack fork lift that helps me with some of the heavy stuff, but going to buy a lift cart some day in the near future to get heavy vises and stuff out of my Honda and into my shop. some are able to lift close to 1000 pounds so if you might be doing heavy stuff often you might look into buying one. I've seen some less expensive ones up for sale for $150 range and the one i'm looking at is a new Jet one that is rated for 660 for about $400, but there are several good options.

it won't be light or easy to move if you have to haul the 4 x 8 piece home and most steel places don't cut them around here.

good luck

 

[crab]

Place where I buy steel will shear it for a small charge. I can't imagine how heavy that sheet will be, after it's sheared it will still take 2 men and a boy to handle it. That bench is going to be seriously heavy. I know you said that's what you wanted .

 

[Radartom1]

A little more progress.

had to build a couple of spreaders, to hold down the bottom while I welded them.

Back side

Bench top, or where it will go

I hate drilling holes

Where I'm at today, damn rain.

 

[Radartom1]

only got one new picture this weekend, moving along just slow.

 

[Dragfluid]

Nice work. Good looking welds.
I am concerned about the high center of gravity, since you have casters on it. It's really not meant to "roll around", right? Just put it up against a wall and leave it type thing?

 

[Radartom1]

Nice work. Good looking welds.
I am concerned about the high center of gravity, since you have casters on it. It's really not meant to "roll around", right? Just put it up against a wall and leave it type thing?

correct, the whole reason for the casters is for cleaning up grinding dust basically from behind it periodically, and as I mentioned before I anticipate moving at least 2 more times till I can settle down and a build a shop.

 

[afbrian13]

Awesome bench! I have almost everything in my garage on wheels for the same reason. It paid off recently when I had to move everything away from the walls for some foundation work. Love the ABU's btw, unserviceable uniforms are my go to work clothes too.

 

[Radartom1]

Awesome bench! I have almost everything in my garage on wheels for the same reason. It paid off recently when I had to move everything away from the walls for some foundation work. Love the ABU's btw, unserviceable uniforms are my go to work clothes too.

sadly enough those are not unserviceable ABU's, there brand new. when I retired I had about 8 brand new sets never worn or even sewed stripes on. donated most of them to my airmen in my shop, and kept a few for posterity, garage shorts and now a set for welding. I will agree they do make good garage clothes.

 

[Radartom1]

doors installed, just need to find a latch I like.

trash/grinding dust chute

over all of where I'm at now

 

[saceone]

the chute is genious !!!

 

[Cypherian]

the chute is genious !!!

Extremely Genius :}

Cypher

 

[Radartom1]

This is a snow ball project and keeps change every time I'm in the garage. Started out as a simple I want a new work bench that is one piece and flat with four legs. To I want a little more light so I'll add a light above the work area. Well if i do that might as well add a shelf, well why not a cabinet. Next was I always hate grinding sparks embedding in the wall so let's put a back piece on. Well you get the picture. I have a couple little things left, but I think I'm done with the major fab work, and for the most part I'm down to paint.

 

[ez-duzit]

I like the dust chute. But would lose the top-heavy upper cabinet.

 

[Radartom1]

I like the dust chute. But would lose the top-heavy upper cabinet.

I have been getting the top heavy comment a lot. I don't think it's going to be all that top heavy once I put a 3/8" top on and add **** to the tool bins. Right now I've been rolling it around working on it and it's very stable. The stuff I plan on putting in the top bin is more tools I don't use on a normal basis and I'm tired of them getting covered in grinding dust. In hind sight I would have made it a little shorter, but it's working so far.

 

[nonhog]

Shoot-that chute is cool!

 

[drivesitfar]

Rad: since you are not going to move the bench/cabinet often and you like it then happy to hear it works for you. I too LOVE the grinder dust debris shoot too. are you going to have a grinder or buffer full time on the bench or just put in on a hitch type mount and put it in your steel tubing you already have bolts in when needed so it won't take up your flat space? will it be close enough to the chute if mounted to front of table/bench?

did you buy the plate for the top yet or still working on that? 1/2 inch or do tell?

keep up the great work and really understand the comments about starting one idea and moving forward with several others before you are done. looks great so far.